November 1, 2020 CORPUS CHRISTI COMMUNITY
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orpus Christi Catholic Community 6001 Bob Billings Parkway C part of the Catholic Church of Northeast Kansas Lawrence, Kansas 66049V5200 785V843V6286 www.cccparish.org November 1, 2020 CORPUS CHRISTI COMMUNITY How Halloween and ALL Saints Go Together Every year, people and well meaning Christians seem to question how Halloween should be celebrated in respect to our faith. This Halloween will be quite different from the normal thanks to the pandemic. Halloween is a holiday Catholics should embrace in its original form so a little history lesson is needed. In the year 610 Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Roman Pantheon to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to all Christian martyrs and set aside a day in their honor. That date, May 13, coincided with the Lemuria festival, a pagan Roman celebration intended to satisfy the restless dead. A century later, this Day of All Saints was moved to Nov. 1. "All Hallows," "Halloween" eventually joined the stable of popular designations for the time in the Church's liturgical calendar when the Church commemorates its saints (or hallowed ones). The November date was providentially close to the feast celebrated by pagan Celts in honor of their druid "lord of the dead" the god Samhain. Bonfires would be built, gourds would be carved into lanterns and treats would be set out for the dead. Realizing the value of incorporating non-evil pagan practices into Christian faith, which was nothing new, the Church allowed Christians to continue these customs as a way for us to pass on the faith. If these non-evil customs should help us remember to set aside a time to pray for the dead. The Feast of All Saints on November 1 is not only for the saints the church has named, but for all the saints known to God alone. If Halloween is a way to mock the devil and even the sting of death, it is because the saints in heaven did not fear death, but welcomed it. The connection we have with those who have died is so important, because it should encourage and strengthen us to daily strive to be with them one day. The Spanish Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead holiday in Mexico, honors dead loved ones as a way to make peace with the eventuality of death by treating it with familiarity. Modern observations vary from region to region. In some rural areas, families adorn gravesites with candles, marigolds, and the favorite foods of the deceased in an attempt to persuade the loved ones to return for a family reunion. In urban areas, people have festive celebrations in the streets and indulge in the consumption of food and alcohol. Some wear skull masks known as calacas. Many families build altars, called ofrendas, in their homes using photos, candles, flowers and food. If our faith is strong enough, than it is good and well for us to mock death. As scripture says "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 1 Cor 15: 55 God bless, Fr. Jerry 2 NOVEMBER 1, 2020 CORPUS CHRISTI COMMUNITY 3 NOVEMBER 1, 2020 CORPUS CHRISTI COMMUNITY All Saints Prayer God of all, on this day we recall those who have gone before us, leaving this world and joining you forever. Help us to remember that we are never alone. For even when we feel lost in our walk with you, we have a cloud of believers surrounding us, cheering us on. May your saints guide us with their words, inspire us with their example, and bring us to holiness with their prayers. Most of all, give us the desire to be saints ourselves, to know, love and serve you in this life, and enjoy you forever in the next, fulfilling the purpose for which you created us. Amen. Chapel of Remembrance: Remembering Our Own November is a time when we as a Catholic community pray for and remember all of our loved ones who have died. As we enter into this special time of prayer and reflection, a Chapel of Remembrance has been set up in the area south of the baptismal font. All are invited to place photos of their deceased loved ones in this area during the months of October and November. Please label picture with your name and phone number. This collection photos serves as a tangible reminder of the Communion of Saints which binds all of us, living or deceased, into one Church. This year we ask that you inscribe the names of the people who meant so much to you in this life by going to cccparish.org/remembrance. All the names that are listed will be placed in the Book of Remembrance. This book will be processed in during November liturgies and will be placed at the foot of the altar. All those listed will be remembered during our liturgies in November. November Liturgy for the Deceased All are invited to remember those dear to us who have gone home to God, on Monday, November 2nd at 6:00 pm. This liturgy is in remembrance of family members of our community as well as those in our parish, listed below, and all other loved ones you wish to remember who have gone before us. During this beautiful liturgy, family members will come forward to light a candle in remembrance of their loved ones. Everyone is encouraged to attend this liturgy to pray for the faithful departed and remember those who meant so much to us. Donald Gillihan Mary Ann Easley Judith Blackshire Jeanine Lienhard Lois McGovern Phyllis Ogburn Brenda Jardon Janine Wurm 4 NOVEMBER 1, 2020 CORPUS CHRISTI COMMUNITY Corpus Christi Church Website and Social Media Procedures Social Media requests may be emailed to Maureen Brogren at [email protected]. Please give her ample time to complete your request by emailing her at least three weeks before you need a social media post or graphic to be ready/shared. She also reserves the right to postpone your post if a week’s social media schedule is already filled (we don’t want to overload our parishioners with tons of information and events at once). It is helpful if you let her know in your email request exactly what date that graphic or post is needed by (to meet bulletin or print deadlines), so she can be sure to have those completed for you. Please make sure the following information is included in a website or social media request and email [email protected]. Event Name Event Date and Time Any important details relating to the event Photos, Clipart or page design needs to be included (artwork can be designed for you) Requested dates for being published Which platforms you are hoping for it to be posted on (Bulletin, Facebook, Website, Sign Slide, What’s Up Wednesday and Friday Communication) Upon your submission, the information will be reviewed. Updates will be completed during the next week. Our policy is that we promote events that our Corpus Christi ministries and groups are coordinating/hosting, and events sponsored by the Archdiocese. Contact Maureen at [email protected] for any special artwork/graphic needs. Gospel Meditation I remember as a child the meticulousness my father would bring to a task. Whether it be tending to a chore in the yard, repairing something, or painting a room, the tiniest of every detail demanded his attention. He had great patience. I benefited greatly by his example and remember these lessons well. We all need examples to follow. It is important to identify folks who excel at simple things and show us how to do things well. There are those among us and those who have gone before us who serve as these models and witnesses. They are ordinary people who in their “extraordinary ordinariness” capture our attention and allow us to see things more clearly. These are the prophets, martyrs, teachers, witnesses, heralds, and innovators who bring a single- minded devotion to God to even the simplest of tasks they perform. They have an openness to being used and become vessels of Divine justice, mercy, and presence. They call us to the “more” of life and point us to the Gospel in all of its simplicity and splendor. They remind us of the little ones of the Kingdom and the values we all need to cultivate and possess. They are the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, and the peacemaker who often are rejected not only by those who have far different agendas but by those you think would welcome them. All of the saints in heaven and on earth form this cloud of witnesses who journey with us as we make our way through life. They offer us inspiration, wisdom, intercession, and support. They direct us toward true happiness and remind us that we are all called to be saints. All it takes is desire, love, and fidelity. There is much we can learn from the official saints of the church. Their guidance is ever before us and ever with us. But there is also a lot to learn from the unofficial saints of the church. They sit beside us every Sunday, are our neighbors and ordinary people we meet every day. Because of the devotedness of their faith, they remind us to keep going, remain focused, and cultivate purpose and meaning, and give voice to those who have none. The inspiration is all around us. Pay attention to the details. Do what you do with great love. Know that you are not alone. Believe that you can persevere.