Dear Parishioners,

In today's Gospel, Jesus asks to see a coin. He holds it up and says, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?" They answer, "Caesar's." And Jesus replies, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God" (Matthew 22:20-21).

On November 1, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints. We honor not only the saints we know by name but also those known to God alone. They remind us that heaven is our home and holiness our calling.

In the first reading, Saint John sees a great multitude from every nation standing before God's throne. They remained faithful through suffering and rejoice before the Lord. Their victory comes not from perfection but from the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Saint Jude Thaddeus was one of the Twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus. At the Last Supper, one question revealed his desire to understand Christ. Jude wondered why Jesus would reveal Himself to His disciples and not to the world. Jesus answered by speaking of love, faithfulness, and God's promise to dwell with those who love Him.

A scholar asks Jesus which commandment matters most. Jesus answers with two that cannot be separated: love God with your whole heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. These are not competing duties. Together, they reveal what a life rooted in God should look like. His answer invites us beyond words into a daily commitment of faith and action.

Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees, who hope to trap Him with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. He asks them to show Him a coin and identify whose image it bears. When they answer Caesar, Jesus tells them to give Caesar what belongs to Caesar and God what belongs to God. His answer reaches beyond taxes and earthly obligations.

Karol Wojtyła was born in Wadowice, a small town near Kraków, on May 18, 1920. His father, an army veteran, taught him to pray by example. His mother, Emilia, died in 1929, when Karol was eight. His older brother Edmund, a physician, died in 1932. Then his father died in 1941, and at twenty Karol had lost his entire family.

Jesus tells of a king who prepares a wedding feast and invites his guests to come. Everything is ready, yet many refuse. Some simply return to their farms and businesses. They have other things to do. The invitation of the king is pushed aside.

When Mary Came to Fatima

In the spring of 1917, three young shepherd children were tending their sheep near Fatima, Portugal. Lucia dos Santos and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, could not have known that their ordinary lives were about to change. On May 13, they reported seeing a beautiful woman dressed in white, radiant with light.

More Than Repeated Words

October invites Catholics to rediscover one of the Church's most beloved prayers. The Rosary may seem simple at first. Its prayers are familiar. Its rhythm is steady. Yet its purpose reaches much deeper. The Rosary leads us into the life of Jesus. Mary helps us look toward her Son. Each mystery places Christ before us. We enter His joy and sorrow. We witness His sacrifice and glory.

Jesus tells a story about a vineyard, but His message is close to home. God has placed each of us in a vineyard of our own, giving us faith, neighbors to love, talents to share, and opportunities to serve. None of these blessings belong to us alone. They are gifts placed in our stewardship so that God's goodness can reach beyond our lives.