Dear Friends,

Saint Paul tells us, “’Hope does not disappoint.”

On All Souls’ Day in 2020 Pope Francis reminded us that, “Hope attracts us and gives meaning to life … hope is a gift from God that draws us towards life, towards eternal joy. Hope is an anchor that we have on the other side.”

During the month of November, and especially on All Souls’ Day, November 2, the faithful are asked to make a special effort to pray for, honour, and remember the dead. The Holy Father’s comments remind us that our prayers should be hopeful and that praying for the dead helps all of us become closer to achieving eternal life. The image of hope as an anchor, something to help ground us, and bring us closer to the other side is especially moving to me, and is a wonderful image to guide and focus our prayers for the dead during November.

Once again this year, the Jesuits of Canada continued the tradition of inviting you to share the names of important people in your lives who have died. The names are placed in a basket at the altar of Holy Rosary Parish in Guelph, Ontario. Throughout November, the Jesuits will pray for your loved ones during their daily Eucharist. We sincerely hope you will join us in this prayerful remembrance of the deceased.

Thank you for your support and prayers, without which the ministry of the Jesuits of Canada for the greater glory of God would simply not be possible.

Sincerely,
Barry J. Leidl
Director, Advancement