We are winding down the "Year of Faith" that was promulgated by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI over a year ago.  
Jesus asked in the Gospel last Sunday: "When the Son of Man comes, will He find any faith on the earth?"  Such a statement is first and foremost a challenge for each individual believer to grow in his or her knowledge of the faith, and in trust of Jesus who is the Messiah and Savior of the world.  If we haven't taken advantage of opportunities to grow during this "Year of Faith", we need not despair.  More opportunities will present themselves to us, starting with Jesus being present to us in the Monstrance in our Perpetual Adoration Chapel 24 hours a day, seven days a week starting after the 4:00 p.m. Mass on November 16. I believe it was through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit during this "Year of Faith" that we were moved in the direction of having this great blessing for our parish and for all who take time to be with Jesus in prayer for an hour or any time we choose to stop by the chapel.  I truly expect a tremendous growth in faith here at Sacred Heart Church in the future.  THANKS BE TO GOD!

Soon the leaves will burst into wonderful color, and then they will slowly, or maybe quickly, fall to the ground.  This time of dying (in nature) coincides often with November, the month of All Souls'.  I invite you to enter fully into the spirit of the month which reflects on death, with our hope of new and everlasting life with the Lord, Who is the Resurrection and the Life.

The dates for you to mark on your November calendar are:

October 31, 2013	Solemnity of All Saints Anticipated Mass	6:00 p.m.
November 1, 2013	Solemnity of All Saints Mass	9:00 a.m.
November 2, 2013	All Souls' Day Mass	9:00 a.m.
November 2, 2013	Prayers at  Columbarium	after Mass
November 2, 2013	Prayers at CedarVale  Cemetery	10:30 a.m.
November 5, 2013	Knights of Columbus  Memorial Mass	5:00 p.m.
November 20, 2013	Annual Parish Memorial Mass; especially for those who have lost loved ones this past year. Reception follows Mass- Lower Hall	3:00 p.m.

Also, please drop your All Souls' envelopes with the names of your deceased loved ones in the collection basket, or send through the mail, or at the Church Office, before November 2, so they will be on the altar for All Souls' Day mass and throughout November.

Finally, you are invited to bring pictures of your deceased loved ones, with your name and phone humber on the back of the frame, and place them on the marked table in the narthex.  These will be arranged and put on our Table of Remembrance in church for the month of November.

For the many people I have encountered since I have lived in Hot Springs Village, it is clear to many that there are a fair number of Village residents who were Catholic and are currently not practicing the Catholic faith.  Some have joined other faith communities and seem content.  Others are not going to any church right now.  Some are waiting for an invitation or word of encouragement from a practicing Catholic to take the first step that would hopefully bring them back to the practice of the Catholic faith.  Right now, especially, I urge yo to invite someone to look into coming back.  Our "Welcoming Catholics Home" program, that is headed up by Ed Cudworth with help from Janet Krough, will be starting at the end of the month (October 29) and will go on for four weeks.  Give Ed a call if you have any questions about the program or give his number, 915-9122, to someone who you believe might consider taking the first step.