Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Mary’s of the Lake:

 Everyyear,alongwiththeuniversalChurchwecelebrate This FEAST OF ALL SAINTS on Nov 1. In faith we honor all those who now enjoy the fullness of life in Heaven for all eternity. We look up to them as an inspiration & example for our life of faith.

We also ask them to pray for us, our families, our church & our world. As you know: ALL SAINTS IS A HOLY DAY OFOBLIGATION. This year the Feast of All Saints falls on Friday. On this day, we are going to have three Masses: 8:30 am & 6 pm in Lakewood, and 4:00 pm in Wabeno. Please plan ahead so that you can go to Mass this Friday to worship God, to honor All the Saints (including your patron saints), to reflect on their virtues (to imitate), and to ask them to pray for us before God. What is the name of your patron Saint? (Maybe John or Rita, Nicholas or Catherine etc...). Do you know something special about them?

° HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD, PRAY FOR US! ° SAINT ______ ____, PRAY FOR US!
° ALL HOLY MEN AND WOMEN, PRAY FOR US!

 Also: Every year, one day after ALL SAINTS is the feast of ‘Commemoration of All the
Faithful Departed’ -aks ALL SOULS’
DAY. As Christians we believe that

in death life is only changed, not
ended! The current CATECHISM OF
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH states: ‘All
who die in God's grace and
friendship, but still imperfectly
purified, are indeed assured of their
eternal salvation; but after death
they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.’ (# 1030). The term ‘PURGATORY’ is used to refer to necessary ‘purging’ or purification before heaven. From the beginning, the church has honored the memory of the dead & offered prayers for them --especially during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. As a matter of fact, each time we gather for a Mass, we are called to nourish the 4 general intentions: Adoration, Thanksgiving, Contrition and Petition. In addition, we are invited to add various special intentions for ourselves & for others --both living and deceased. Oftentimes, throughout the year, individuals or families have requested a special ‘MASS INTENTION’ for the deceased. If you want to request a special Mass Intention for the living and/or the deceased, please contact the Parish Office. The Feast of All Souls reminds us to pray for our deceased families, friends, and parishioners. As we pray for them, we entrust them to the Love, Mercy and Forgiveness of God.

MAY THEY REST IN PEACE! Fr. Philip