I have always been amused by today’s Gospel story about the woman who was married to seven brothers and there were no children from any of the marriages. Tragic that there were no children, but amused at the story itself. Life after this life is something we all wonder about, but we do not know what God has prepared for us. I myself have heard from a number of people in hospitals who had “near death experiences.” They all mentioned seeing one or more of their loved ones either beckoning them to come forward or sending them back. They also described a feeling of peacefulness. There are a number of books written about the same subject; they all said basically the same thing about their experiences at that “near death” time. Interesting and enlightening.

Today, I am with 42 of our St. Francis Pilgrims in France. Saturday morning we had Mass at the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere. In 1643, the people in the town of Annecy asked the Virgin Mary to intercede for the town to be spared from the black plague. In thanksgiving, they built this basilica dedicated to her. We then toured Tours, stopping at historical sites. On Sunday, we will be going to the Chateau Cenonceaux, then to Chateau Amboise and later Mass at the Basilique de St. Martin. Tomorrow we travel to the famous Chartres Cathedral with its magnificent stained glass windows that were not destroyed during World War. We will going to the Normandy Beaches and have Mass at the American Cemetery there. We pray for you each day at Mass.

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.

How do we overcome this evil of rejecting a brother or sister’s humanity, the same evil that provoked Cain’s sin? What are the necessary steps that would lead to this conversion? We find our inspiration in the words of the prophet Micah: You have been told, O mortal, what is good,
and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God. (Mi 6,8)

To do justice requires an honest acknowledgement of our failures and the restoring of right relationships between us. “If we acknowledge our sins (God) is faithful and just and will
forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.” To love goodness demands pursuing “what leads to peace and to building up one another.” It requires a determined effort, but even
more so, it requires humility; it requires each of us to ask for the grace needed to overcome this sin and get rid of this scourge.
(to be continued)

We hear about the famous Zacchaeus in today’s Gospel. He was the chief tax collector and a wealthy man, and probably not a popular individual. It is interesting to follow how he could not see Jesus and so he ran ahead and even climbed a tree. Jesus sees him and to the surprise of the crowd, invites Zacchaeus to come down out of the tree and tells him that he is going to stay at his house. You can only imagine the reaction from the crowd. We get an idea of the reaction when they begin grumbling and say that he is going to the “house of a sinner.” Zacchaeus now has a chance to tell Jesus what positive things he is going to do: give half of his possessions to the poor and if he has extorted anyone, he will repay the person four times over.” Something beyond reason has happened to Zacchaeus… all of because of Jesus’ non-judgmental, accepting approach.

On Monday evening at 7:00 PM we will celebrate our annual All Souls Mass of Remembrance. Bring a photo of your loved one to place before the altar during the Mass. This is a special Mass
especially for those who were not able to attend the funeral of a loved one or those who died recently. See the announcement here.

This Wednesday, November 6, I will leave with 42 Pilgrims to visit some of the shrines and historical sites in France. We will have in many of these places and we always pray for those back , our benefactors, and our friends for health and blessings. fly to Geneva and travel into France from that direction. Please us in your prayers for a safe and inspiring pilgrimage.

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.

Racism can often be found in our hearts – in many cases placed there unwillingly or unknowingly by our upbringing and culture. As such, it can lead to thoughts and actions that we do not even see as racist, but nonetheless flow from the same prejudicial root… Racism can also be institutional, when practices or traditions are upheld that treat certain groups of people unjustly. The cumulative effects of personal sins of racism have led to social structures of injustice and violence that makes us all accomplices in racism.

With the positive changes that arose from the civil rights movement and related civil rights legislation, some may believe that racism is no longer a major affliction of our society – that it is only found in the hearts of individuals who can be dismissed as ignorant or unenlightened. But racism still profoundly affects our culture, and it has no place in the Christian heart. This evil causes great harm to its victims, and it corrupts the souls of those who harbor racist or prejudicial thoughts. The persistence of the evil of racism is why we (the US Bishops) are writing this letter now. People are still being harmed, so action is still needed.
(to be continued)

St. Luke recounts one of the parables of Jesus which begins “Two people went up to the temple area to pray…”

We are all different in the ways that we pray – some praise God for their blessings, some ask God to grant their petitions, some ask God for guidance, and some even tell God what they want Him to do. Praying can be difficult in our busy world full of distractions. The point to today’s Gospel is to pray from the heart, knowing who we are before God and that we are all sons and daughters of the One God. There is no “put down” of anyone or bragging about one’s “generosity.” The conclusion of the Gospel speaks about humility and that there is something positive about being humble.

I have found that the Wills Seminars that we have here at St. Francis are always helpful and well attended. I am surprised to learn how many people do not have a will or that they never had their will updated. So many problems are created when a person dies and there is no will or an outdated one. I have seen families torn apart because of this. Also, many do not think about leaving something to the church. We have been blessed over the years to have received financial support through the estates of people who have come to St. Francis while they worked or lived in Manhattan. I am grateful that lawyers offer their services FREE at these Wills Seminars. It provides an opportunity to clarify questions that a person may have. If you missed Saturday’s seminar, we will have another one soon.

Don’t forget the All Saints Holy Day on November 1.

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.

Racism occurs because a person ignores the fundamental truth that, because all humans share a common origin, they are all brothers and sisters, all equally made in the image of God. When this truth is ignored, the consequence is prejudice and fear of the other, and – all too often – hatred.

Racism comes in many forms. It can be deliberate, sinful acts. In recent times, we have seen bold expressions of racism by groups as well as individuals. The re-appearance of symbols of hatred, such as nooses and swastikas in public spaces, is a tragic indicator of rising racism and ethnic animus. All too often, Hispanics and African Americans, for example, face discrimination in hiring, housing, educational opportunities, and incarceration. Racial profiling frequently targets Hispanics for selective immigration enforcement practices and African Americans, for suspected criminal activity. There is also the growing fear and harassment of persons from majority Muslim countries. Extreme nationalist ideologies are feeding the American public discourse with xenophobic rhetoric that instigates fear among foreigners, immigrants and refugees. Finally, too often racism comes in the form of the sin of omission, when (many) remain silent and fail to act against racial injustice when it is encountered.

Today’s Gospel is the interesting account of the persistent widow and the dishonest judge. She is the victor in spite of how she is treated. This is a victory for what a woman in her position in society could do. This is encouraging for those who may be hesitant to stand up for what they know is right. Jesus uses the example of ordinary people to show heroic action in difficult circumstances. He joins his life to ours and encourages us to act the same.

Several activities are coming up soon: next Saturday, October 26, there is a Wills Seminar after the 4 PM Mass in the Clare Room. This is a great opportunity to ask questions that you may have and to hear about ways to plan for the future. It is free and will begin about 5 PM.

Also on Saturday, October 26, the Filipino Community is sponsoring a Costume Party with food and music. It is always interesting to see how people will come dressed to this event. This promises to be a fun evening.

Commemorative Journals are available at the reception desk. This beautiful book celebrates St. Francis Church’s 175 Years of presence in midtown Manhattan. Some history, our ministries, photos and sponsors make up this Journal. Stop by and take a look at it.

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.

If you would like to remember a deceased friend or loved one on All Souls Day, we a have special card available at the reception desk for an offering of $5.00 each.

You can also purchase a card and choose your own donation amount online here: https://stfrancisnyc.org/product/all-souls-day-card/

The cover of the card features a photo of the Angel of Redemption from the Sorrowful Mother Shrine.

The inside message reads:

A Spiritual Gift in Loving Memory of

____________________

will share in a special remembrance in the prayers and Masses
celebrated by the Franciscan Friars at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi on All Souls Day.

The Church of St. Francis of Assisi will observe Columbus Day on

Monday, October 14th with one Mass 11:30 AM.
There will be no confessions.

The church offices will be closed for the day, including the St. Francis Adult Education Center.