This past week was the annual Priests’ Convocation, I appreciate again how good is to be away. Good to be in a different space, among people I don’t see every day, doing a different set of tasks. But, in the end, we’re ready to come home. We ask each other the question: “What’s next week like? Will it be a quiet week?”

This year the answer is most definitely “no”! We have several things going on this week. They’re all good, they’ll help us grow in our faith. So, let’s not allow it to slip by.

Now: The Book of the Dead. Our parish Books of the Dead will be available for you to write in the names of the deceased to be remembered throughout November. Please don’t confuse these with the normal intention books!

Thursday: Halloween. Yes, the Eve of All Hallows can go in many directions, some of them pretty removed from the night’s holy origin. But, let’s remember that an Eve always pushes us to the Day. If we’re thinking ghosts and goblins Thursday night, we’re also celebrating the holiness of the saints that drives out that darkness. And remember: Trick or Treating in front of St Lawrence Church.

Friday: All Saints. Masses at 7 a.m. at St Lawrence, 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at St Boniface. Check the schedule for Masses at other area parishes.

Saturday: All Souls. Don’t forget to pray for our dead. Durefle’s Requiem Mass will be sung at 4 p.m. Also, remember that the Church gives us a plenary indulgence for the deceased when we visit a church on All Souls and when we visit a cemetery the first week of November.

Sunday: A New Parish. Yes, we’ve arrived on consolidation day. Make a special effort to pray for our very local Church, that God will keep us always faithful to the mission of Jesus Christ.