Dear Friend of Carmel Mission,
Today we celebrate the feast of All Saints. As we remember our favorite saints, whose example has been an inspiration in our own life of faith, we are also encouraged that we too can join their number. Though few of us will become a canonized saint of the Catholic Church, not that I am counting any of you out, we are all called to develop the deep relationship with God and the attitude of service that characterizes the lives of all the saints.
Many of you may be aware that yesterday marked an important step in the journey to formal sainthood for one American parish priest, Fr. Michael McGivney. Fr. McGivney was beatified in a special Mass at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Harford, CT and is now called “Blessed.” This is an inspiration to all of us parish priests, that one of our number is so honored by the Church for his life of service. Likewise it is a special inspiration to all who are members of the fraternal order that Fr. McGivney founded, the Knights of Columbus.
Fr. McGivney’s life exemplified the principles that Jesus presents in his Sermon on the Mount. He served the poor and the meek. He stood up for what was right at all costs. He worked to be a peacemaker and to bring peace and security to his community. His goal in founding the Knights of Columbus was to empower men to embrace and live these principles. Founded on the ideas of charity, unity and fraternity, the Knights of Columbus began as twenty four men gathering in the basement of their church in Connecticut and has grown to be the largest Catholic fraternal organization in the world, numbering over two million members.
We have many reasons to be grateful for Fr. McGivney’s legacy. Foremost among them is our own local council of Knights who practice the values of charity and service in our community. Since the beginning of the COVID- 19 crisis, the Knights have been, as they have always been, a crucial source of support for our parish. It is said, “where there is a need, there is a Knight” and that has certainly proved true here at Carmel Mission. Thank you to all our Knights and congratulations on the beatification of your founder, Fr. McGivney.
If you are interested in learning more about Fr. McGivney’s life and journey towards sainthood, I invite you visit our website, carmelmission.org and on our video page, under Fr. Paul’s Messages, you will find a brief documentary video created in anticipation of his beatification by the Knights of Columbus.
I wish you and your loved ones continued blessings of good health, renewed hope and the intercession of all the saints,
Fr. Paul
Please take a moment to read our Carmel Mission weekly bulletin.