Dear Parishioners,

Today we celebrate the feast of "All Saints". We have Saints from all walks of life. In the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., under the commanding mosaic of Christ in glory, there are six pillars. On top of every pillar, there is a statue of a Saint. There are figures of a queen, (St. Elizabeth), a vagrant (St. Benedict Joseph Labre), a cook (St. Zita), a doorman (St. Conrad), a mystic (St. Gemma) and a parish priest ( St. John Vianney). Though they are from different walks of life, they all responded to God's invitation to holiness, commemorated in today's liturgy.

It is a feast of encouragement, celebrating that we are all called to be holy. The biblical meaning of 'saint' is a person who is trying to live a life of holiness for the Lord. The theme of our parish life is the "Call to Holiness." In the words of our Pastor, Fr. Tarantino, it means 'the whole community grows together by learning how to live with Christ at the core of our lives.' We must always see our "Call to Holiness" in the context of Christ.

All of us could one day be Saints in heaven, if only we decide to live by the norms of the Beatitudes that Jesus proclaims in today's Gospel. The eight beatitudes are eight keys to unlock the treasures of Christian happiness. They are invitations from God our Father to the destiny of peace and joy.

Therefore, those of us who can now humbly say, 'I need God's help and my community's help,' can one day be saints, because Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." Those of us who can say now, 'I am really hurt, but I still love,' can one day be saints, because Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn." Those of us who can say now, 'I am upset but I am going to remain cool, calm and collected,' can one day be saints, because Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek." If we say now, 'I really want to do the right thing,' we can one day be saints, because Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger of righteousness." If we say now, 'In spite of the persecution that I face, I shall continue doing the right,' we can one day be saints, because Jesus said, "Blessed are the persecuted for the sake of righteousness." If we say now, 'I am going to treat others the way I want others to treat me,' we can one day be saints, because Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful." If we say now, 'I am going to be a bridge-builder for peace,' we can one day be saints, because Jesus said, "Blessed are the peace makers." If we say now, 'through my inward journey, I keep my heart always clean,' we can one day be saints, because Jesus said, "Blessed are the clean of heart."

The beatitudes are the marks of a true disciples of Jesus. They are the standards by which we measure holiness. It is the life to which we have all been called. A person who lives according to the beatitudes is already living in the kingdom of God. I wish that all of us may inherit this kingdom of God, here on this beautiful planet. May God bless us all.

May God bless us all.

Father Lawrence