RENews

All Saints & All Souls Day

The Feast of All Saints (November 1st) and Feast of All Souls (November 2nd) is a Christian celebration. Both days mark a special time for the Catholic Church, to remember the saints in Christian history and to pray for people. In Western Christianity, each year we honour all saints, those known and unknown. In the Eastern Churches, it is celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost, while some other Eastern Rites celebrate it on the first Friday after Easter.  For the Christian community, both days are traditionally a time to pray to saints and remember deceased family members and friends. It is common for families to attend church, as well as visit cemeteries in order to lay flowers and candles on the graves of their deceased loved ones.

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day takes place on 11 November each year and it is dedicated to Australians who died as a result of war, particularly from World War I onwards. At 11am, a minute's silence is dedicated to the deceased, especially for soldiers who died fighting to protect the nation.

Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November in most countries to recall the end of hostilities of the First World War on that date in 1918. In many countries, people wear a poppy to commemorate those who died in the war. Poppies were chosen as a symbol because they often grew on battlefields after the soldiers stopped fighting. Although Remembrance Day is observed on November 11 although it is not a public holiday.

Prayers for the people: Loving Creation

We pray for all leaders taking part in the Glasgow climate conference.

For all leaders taking part in the Glasgow climate conference, that they will make the urgent commitments needed to protect the planet from global warming.

As the Glasgow climate summit concludes, let us turn our attention to the absence of 'creation' in Jesus’ reply to the scribes. 

‘We are to love God, neighbour and self with all our hearts.’

So, what about creation? Two things at least can account for Jesus’ silence. 

First, nature was not under threat as it is now; it did not need special attention. Second, Jesus was fully at home in the natural world and perceptive of it's life. He had made his own the ancient tradition of his people that God pronounced all creation good.

Ultimately, this is what must drive us – not fear of climate catastrophe, but a passionate love for the world in all its divine beauty and goodness.

God of all creation, you made everything in boundless love. Free our hearts to love as Jesus loved. We ask this through Christ our Lord

 Amen.

Make a Difference Community

Make a difference is a social enterprise that needs your help. It does not ask for donations, rather their aim is to create history by supplying 20 tonns of pasta and rice to charities. For more information or how you can support this organisation either call 1300 76 45 11 or https://makeadifference.college