As we move into the dark winter months November draws us into a special time of remembrance. We begin the month with the Feast of All Saints celebrating the lives of countless men and women who reflected God’s love in their daily lives. We celebrate All Soul’s Day this Monday, remembering all our deceased loved ones and all the faithful departed. As we remember them with love and affection, we entrust them to God’s love in the light and peace of heaven.
The Coronavirus Pandemic has brought profound loss and deep grief to families and communities throughout the world. Our own parish community has experienced this suffering and trauma. Some of you were not able to be with your loved ones through their last days in the ways you wanted to be. Many of you experienced the added burden of restricted numbers at the funerals of family and friends. Our November remembrance this year is particularly poignant in the context of our struggles and trauma during the ongoing Covid crisis. As always, we remember, and we grieve as people of faith and hope. We place our trust in the Lord who shares in our suffering. He has walked this way before us, has destroyed death forever and restored life. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you who are grieving. May the Lord bless you with comfort, peace and strength.
We will have our annual Masses of remembrance for those whose funerals took place in the parish over the last year. As our three churches remain closed for public worship while we remain at Level 5, we will live stream these Masses and you can join us on our webcam. We will be in touch with all of you who had family funerals in any of the three churches and we will give you all the details for the Masses.
Deacon Steve will lead the Rosary on Monday and Friday evenings at 7.00p.m. for the month of November. You can join him at www.churchservices.tv/ballymunvm
All Masses from the three churches will continue to be streamed at the normal scheduled times. If you have any queries you can leave a message at any of the parish offices and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Please, take good care, go safely and gently. Let us remain together in a solidarity of prayer and hope.
May the Lord support us
All the long,
Till the shadows lengthen
And the evening comes
And the busy world is hushed
And the fever of life is over.
Then in his mercy
May he give us a sage lodging
A holy rest
And peace at last
Amen
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