This episode, which starts at 12:38 and ends at 15:43, helps you to learn more about the Gospel and the homily. You will discover how the homily is crafted and why we, as the faithful, are provided with this as part of the Holy Mass. Can you recall a homily by which you were particularly moved or challenged?

Here is a great faith sharing idea from an organization for Catholic catechetical leaders called NCCL:

Dr. LeJeune was a French geneticist of the 20th century. He was a defender of life and is revered for his work with individuals with Down Syndrome. His work and faith even prompted other scientists to convert to Catholicism. Dr. Lejeune discovered that Down syndrome was caused by an extra chromosome. This discovery allowed people to understand that Down syndrome was not passed down from the parents. His discovery allowed people to learn about Down syndrome in the womb, and Dr. LeJeune spoke up for the unborn who had Down syndrome, defending their lives and helping their families to lovingly welcome their child into the world. Pope Saint John Paul II appointed Dr. Lejeune the head of the Pontifical Academy for Life and in 2021, Dr. Jérôme Lejeune was declared Venerable by Pope Francis.

Denis-Soto, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Fr. Isaac Jogues was a Jesuit missionary in the 17th century. He lived and ministered among the Mohawk tribe of New York State and was held prisoner by the tribe. A group of Dutch settlers from Albany helped him to escape to New York City and return home to France. Back in Europe, he longed to return to the Mohawk people and after only a few months, he returned to Canada attending to the Huron, Algonquin and Iroquois tribes. He worked toward peace between the Native people and the French but eventually his ministry would see him martyred along with fellow missionaries, at the site of Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville, NY, along the Mohawk River. He is the patron saint of the Americas and Canada. As we remember him, and all martyrs who died in service to Christ, pray the solemn prayer from Catholic Relief Services, reminding us that even in today's world, we have martyrs who are dying for their beliefs and love of God.

You may think that this is a work of mercy that just doesn't apply to your family if you don't have a loved one in prison. However, we can take it out of its literal sense to consider who is being held captive by their lives. Many of us know individuals who have become slaves to their own worries or fears, loneliness, depression, or a sense hopelessness. We may also know those who are imprisoned by addiction. October is Mental Health Awareness month. How can your family offer kindness to those individuals who are having difficulty with their mental wellness? Try being a beacon of hope this month to a person who is imprisoned by a mental health challenge.

"And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." Romans 5:5

Learn more about the National Catholic Mental Health Campaign:

Try this recipe with a pumpkin or leaf cookie cutter!

Fall is such a fun season in our area. Create a new family tradition by secretly leaving a full sized-pumpkin and the pumpkin prayer card for neighbors or friends! Or, try the painting idea below!

Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester

Editor: Leslie Barkin leslie.barkin@dor.org

Debtor in Possession

Email: oec@dor.org
Website: oec.dor.org
Location: Diocese of Rochester, Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: 585-328-3210

See them all here!