User Name : Password :   Welcome...! Pastoral Message Newsletter Events Programs Events/News Directory Priests Parishes Congregations Communities Institutions Necrology Art Talents Photo Gallery Contact Information Phone Book Address Book Feedback/Guest Book Special Access Opportunities Matrimonial Profiles       Pastoral Message A lay missionary spent his entire life in the mission fields of Africa, telling the story of Jesus. During those days, missionary support was meager at best and nonexistent at worse. But, struggling the best he could, he stayed on the field. In the latter years of his life, his wife died but he did not have the money to take her back to her home for burial, so he was forced to bury her in a makeshift grave near his home. Finally, with his health, his money, and his family gone he scraped together enough for boat passage back to his native country. As the boat entered the harbor, suddenly it was surrounded by fireboats spurting spray of water and tugs blowing horns. As the boat docked, a band began playing and a crowd of people began shouting and waving their arms as a celebrity walked down the gangplank. As he watched all this from the railing, this elderly missionary, knowing he was coming home alone, began feeling sorry for him and began to pray something like this: "Lord, I have given you all I have. I gave you my life, my family, my health. Now, at the ending of my life, why couldn't I be welcomed home with caring people who appreciate what my life has meant for the glory of God?" Then, almost as if it was an audible voice, this elderly missionary felt God speaking to him saying, "Son, you are not Home yet!" test The Solemnity of All Saints reminds us of our destiny: God desires that we be with Him forever in the eternal life of heaven. "Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:2) God calls us to be numbered one day among the saints, "... the ones who have survived the time of great distress and washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb." (Rev 7:14) The Feast of All Saints confirms that many have already attained their destiny and are with God forever. It also points out that those who are now saints were like us as they traveled through life: weak, limited, prone to sin. How then did they become saints? They knew their absolute need for God. They were open and receptive to the Lord's saving grace. They prayed, did penance and performed acts of charity. Certainly, they loved Jesus really present in the Eucharist. They received Him in Holy Communion with joy and trust; they prayed before Him in the Blessed Sacrament with fervor and love. The Solemnity of All Saints encourages us because we are being reminded again that reaching our destiny - to be with God forever is not impossible but in fact attainable. We cannot become saints on our own, but we are not being asked to do that. We are being asked to allow the Lord to make us holy, so that we can rise above our human weakness and be redeemed from our sins. He wants us to join the company of all the saints, and if we let Him, He will do it. Native American tribes are known for their elaborate and colorful quilts. Often the memories of the tribes are women into large quilts used in religious ceremonies. Native American peoples are believed to be among the best quilt makers in the world. What many people do not know is that they have an unwritten law governing the art of quilting: every quilt must have some flaw. Even when they could easily produce the perfect quilt, they go out of their way to introduce a flaw into it. Since the quilt for them is basically a representation of human life and the human condition, the symbolism is clear: no human life is perfect. In a way, the feast of All Souls echoes the same message: no human life is perfect, not even the Christian life. But the love of God does not abandon the souls of our departed brothers and sisters in the faith even when they did not measure up to the ideals of Christian perfection. St. Catherine of Genoa, a mystic of the 15th century, wrote that the 'fire' of purgatory is God's love 'burning' the soul so that, at last, the soul is wholly aflame. It is the pain of wanting to be made totally worthy of One who is seen as infinitely lovable, the pain of desire for union that is now absolutely assured, but not yet fully tasted" (Leonard Foley, O.F.M., Believing in Jesus). As we pray for all who have died, let us also ask them to intercede for us in this life.   Peace be with you this and every day! Msgr. M. Joe Lourdusamy Diocesan Administrator   Copyright © 2006 Sambalpur Diocese, All Rights Reserved. Powered by Bosco ITS.