District Newsletter – October 2008

My Dear Brethren,

I am happy to report that since I last wrote to you Bishop Tissier de Mallerais has successfully completed his visit to most of our chapels in Australia and administered the sacrament of Confirmation. We are now awaiting the forthcoming visit of Bishop de Gallereta who will ordain two priests at Goulburn on 27 December. One of these, the Reverend Jordan Stephens is an Australian and the other, the Reverend Gregory Noronha, is an Indian. Please keep these young Levites in your prayers as the momentous day approaches!

Time passes quickly and it will soon be the month of November which signals that yet another year draws to its close. Well may we pray with the Psalmist, “Lord, make me know my end and what is the number of my days: that I may know what is wanting to me. Behold, thou hast made my days measurable and my substance is as nothing before thee.” (Ps. 38.5-6).

This is also the month in which the Church encourages us to pray for those of her children who have already died. Oftentimes we tend to forget that the life of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, is not restricted to this world. Not only does she have members on earth (the Church Militant) but she also numbers amongst her members the saints in Heaven (the Church Triumphant) as well as the souls in Purgatory (the Church Suffering). These all form one body in Christ and love and care for each other through prayer. This reality is known as the “Communion of Saints” and takes on a special significance in November when the Faithful on earth pray and have Masses offered for their deceased friends and relatives and hopefully even for their former enemies; offering sacrifices on their behalf. It is indeed for this purpose that you will find an envelope enclosed with this letter so that the souls of those whose names you inscribe will be remembered at the altar during this time. The love, which binds us together, is itself truly “as strong as death” (Cant. 8.7). Indeed it participates in the very love of Christ, which has triumphed over death. (more…)