October: Month of the Most Holy Rosary

Dear Friends in Christ:

October is the month of the Most Holy Rosary. During this month, I invite everyone to pray your rosary. I especially encourage families to pray the rosary together as a family. If you do not already pray the rosary regularly, it can take getting used to. However, the more you pray the rosary, the more comfortable and comforting this beautiful prayer will become. In families and among couples, share the prayers of the rosary, take turns leading the decades and mysteries. Sometimes the rosary can become like a race to the finish line. Slow it down a little. Meditate on the individual mysteries and upon the words of the Our Father, Hail Mary and the Glory Be. Pause and concentrate on the Fatima Prayer:

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy. Amen.

Let these words not merely be on our lips but spring from the depths of our hearts. Let them resonate in our minds and hearts after the rosary has been completed. Carry a rosary with you in your pocket or purse. Keep a rosary in your car and on your nightstand. Praying the rosary in traffic is a wonderful way to beat the tension and stress that freeway congestion can cause. Praying the rosary also beats wasting time playing games on our phones, texting or surfing the net. Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Pray for us!
We are still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. So many of our parishioners and neighbors are still suffering and will for a long time to come. Please keep them in your prayers and please continue to reach out to help them in any way you can. The parish efforts are now transitioning. The supply depot has been closed and the regular work crews that were going out every day has ceased. We tried to reach as many people as we could and we know we did not get to everyone who requested help. Clothing, food and other assistance are still available and the parish continues its efforts to help those who have been devastated by the floods. The FEMA offices are still here at the parish. The first day wait was over nine hours and discouraged many. Since then more case workers have been assigned to this location. If you or someone you know needs the assistance of FEMA, they are located in the Youth Lounge of the Activity Center. I am told that the emergency power sub-station on the parking lot will be up through the Spring.
One of the adjustments that we are making due to the floods is that the Annual Parish Bazaar has been postponed to Sunday, November 5. This was necessary as so many were dealing with the disaster and recovery efforts that it was imprudent to try to hold the bazaar in early October. As always, we hope the bazaar is a time of fun and fellowship for all. That we can all come together as one parish community and enjoy a Sunday together is especially important this year. Mark your calendars and make your plans to join us on Sunday, November 5!
Lastly, as many of you have noticed, I have not been well for several weeks. In the midst of everything, I have been dealing with a reoccurrence of health issues related to my illness of last year (prostate, bladder). This has been on-going and not related to dealing with the floods or the parish or anything of the sort. My doctor has been monitoring the situation for several months. Unfortunately, my timing is terrible. During the last month the situation deteriorated and I had to be admitted to the hospital and another surgery performed. To say that this hospitalization was unexpected and a surprise is a huge understatement. Happily, the surgery was successful and the pain has been greatly ameliorated. I have been on bedrest for the last week and am looking forward to regaining my strength and being back to full force soon.

I thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers.

In Pace Christi,
Fr. Troy Gately