Parish Chaplain - Fr Paul

Dear Staff and students,

This last term is not only a special term for HSC students but for all of us. We are fast approaching the end of the academic year and we know that we have received many blessings from the Lord throughout the year.

Firstly, I would like to invite you all to give thanks and praise to the Lord for all HSC students for the gifts of knowledge, wisdom and understanding and other gifts, which have helped them to finish the HSC this year. We also wish them well in the next stage of their lives. May the Lord grant them many blessings so that they can go out and become “salt and light” for the world. May He make them always, wherever they may be, faithful members of his holy people.

Secondly, I would like to pray for staff and all students, that the Lord keep inspiring you all, to be courageous to bear witness to the Lord through your work and studies.

Finally, as we know, the month of November is a special month in the Catholic Church. Following the feast of All Saints on November 1st is the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed. The Church encourages each one of us to pray for the souls in purgatory, which among these souls are our ancestors and relatives and friends, so that they may join as soon as possible the inhabitants of the heavenly city.

In order to get more benefits for the souls in purgatory, the Church allows each one of us to receive a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is granted to the faithful, who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed. The indulgence is plenary each day from the first to the eighth of November.

A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is granted to the faithful, who on the day dedicated to the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed [November 2 {as well as on the Sunday preceding or following, and on All Saints' Day}] piously visit a church. In visiting the church it is required that one Our Father and the Creed be recited. 

To acquire a plenary indulgence it is necessary also to fulfil the following three conditions:

• sacramental Confession,
• Eucharistic communion, and
• prayer for the intention of the Holy Father.

These three conditions may be fulfilled several days before or after the performance of the visit; it is, however, fitting that communion be received and the prayer for the intention of the Holy Father be said on the same day as the visit.

Dear friends,

Let us remember also to pray for all the deceased who used to work and study at our college. May the Lord grant them eternal rest. Amen.