Today, we publicly remembered all those parishioners who died this past year. Any of us could be on next years list. How ready are we, spiritually and otherwise? Is there unfinished business that we are putting off? Do you have a Will? Not having a Will can create financial, legal and emotional problems for surviving members of our family. We show concern for our families by making out a Will. As Pastor, I invite you to remember your parish in your Will. You could leave a gift to our School Endowment Fund or to some other ministry that appeals to you. If your parish has been an important part of your life on earth, why not remember it in your Will. If interested in attaching to your Will your wishes for your funeral services, come to our office and pick up a Planning Sheet and Booklet which has lots of suggestions for scripture readings and songs. For more information on all this, call either Jerry Shea at 254-5436 or Art Carney at 242-5794, two great parishioners who head up our Funeral Bereavement Ministry.
We prepare for death spiritually by having a close and trusting relationship with Jesus our Savior, the Good Shepherd who will lead us through death into the next life. We prepare for death emotionally by facing up to the dying we see around us and the dying that goes on within us when we experience loss. Dying is the last thing that most of us will get to do. Hopefully, we can "die well" i.e. that we can come to terms with our dying, take care of unfinished business, be at peace with our Maker. (I said "most" because some of us will die suddenly like all the people who died on September 11th).
Also, do remember in your prayers, ideally daily, those who are dying at this time. The most frequent penance I give in confession is a decade of the rosary for those who are dying at this time, that they may have the grace of a peaceful death. We should also remember the grieving survivors.