Upon my return from Rome on Friday (10/26), I met with all the Boston seminarians and Father Paul Soper at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. We prayed a holy hour, vespers and dinner. Father Soper made a presentation on pastoral planning and the New Evangelization. We had a dialogue with the seminarians, which was very interesting

Mass in Peabody

Later that day (10/27), I went to Peabody for a Mass at St. Adelaide's to close the 50th anniversary celebration there. We blessed a picture of St. Adelaide. The music program was beautiful. They had several musicians playing trumpets to accompany the choir. It is a very lively parish with lots of young families, and I was happy to be a part of their celebration.

Blessing in Somerville

On Sunday (10/28), we went to St. Ann's in Somerville for the blessing of a new handicap accessible entrance and elevator and the moving of a tower bell. They had renovated the church just beautifully. The Mass was trilingual for the Haitian and Latin American communities. They had wonderful choirs singing Spanish, English and Creole French. Father Brian McHugh has done an extraordinary job in the parish there. The church looks stunning. It was very, very crowded. The singing was just beautiful.

Sunday was also the day that I addressed all of the parishes through video or audio, giving a homily. The Sunday Gospel was the story of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar in Jericho, and I related that to the physician assisted suicide Ballot Question 2. At St. Ann's, of course, I said the homily live.

Visit with Armenian Catholic bishop

Monday (10/29), of course, Hurricane Sandy hit. Armenians are not deterred by wind and rain like postmen of yore. So, I met the new Armenian Catholic bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg, Bishop Mikael Antoine Mouradian, who was ordained around one year ago. With him was the Armenian Catholic pastor, Father Rafael Andonian and Michael Charchaflian, who is studying to become a permanent deacon.

'Partnership for Success' dinner

Tuesday (10/30), I went to the 11th annual "Partnership for Success" dinner for friends of Cathedral High School. They raised around $1.2 million. They honored John White, one of the board members. It was a beautiful evening. They had a film about Cathedral High School and three students spoke there, one graduate, who is now a student at B.C., and two seniors.

Feast of All Saints

November always begins with the beautiful feast of All Saints, at which the Church honors all of those who have gone before us marked by the sign of faith and are now living in God's presence and interceding for us. This is not just the canonized saints who are known, but all of the anonymous saints. I always compare them to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. There is much holiness out there that we do not recognize during people's lives, but God sees their hearts and rewards their fidelity and love.

On the first of November we honor them, and it is followed by the Feast of All Souls on Nov. 2, which is a very special day of intercession for souls in purgatory who are in the process of purification in preparation to enter into God's presence. It is along with Christmas only one of two days when a priest is authorized to celebrate three Masses. I usually celebrate one in the morning, one at noon, and one in the afternoon. This year it was a joy to be able to celebrate that second Mass with my auxiliary bishops and the workers here at the Pastoral Center.