Fr Nate's Letter - September 15, 2024

Many, many thanks to all who made the Outdoor Mass and Oktoberfest last Sunday such a wonderful event. We give our thanks to all those who put in the hard work of planning the event and making it happen, especially to Steve Barcy and all the men of the QAS Men’s Club who were the first to come to set up, and the last to leave after cleaning all the grills. Many thanks to Ben Camarda and Joseph’s Finest Meats; to FACA for the desserts; to Jeff Reichenbach for the ice cream; to all the scouts; the members of our 8th grade class who came to help; to Paul Scavone and Dr. Ken Sotak for their planning of the Mass; and all those who gave of their time in some way shape or form - it would be hard to list everyone. Queen of All Saints is truly blest! Special thanks to all those who came, and most of all, thanks to Almighty God for the blessings he gives us, and bringing us together as we did.

On another note, some emails were again circulating reportedly from Fr. Simon asking for help. Just a gentle reminder, as Fr. Simon assured us, he would never reach out to us in that way, nor would any of the priests. So please do not respond to such inquiries or give any information. It’s sad that such people are out to deceive, but as you and I know, there are.  

A few months ago, I was impressed to see that the 39-foot, 1.5-ton cross was restored to the top of Notre Dame in Paris. As was reported in global news, the cross was the only element on the roof that resisted the flames in the fire of 2019. Ironworkers in Normandy had spent these last five years restoring it, and the cross was recently restored to its home atop the cathedral. It was quite remarkable to consider how they got 1.5 tons up there back when it was built. And only recently, someone was showing me some pictures of the restoration that was done to the cross atop the tower of our own basilica a few years ago.

It was quite a project to restore these crosses, and there’s a reason why we put the cross at the top of our sacred space.

I don’t know that there are too many people who stop and consider why we put a cross at the highest point of our church, inside and out, and why we, if you will, live in the shadow of that cross. This past Saturday, the Church celebrated the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. Hearing Jesus speak of the cross in our Gospel this weekend, it’s only natural that Peter would say what he says to Jesus. You can imagine the horror or even the confusion of the disciples when Jesus tells them they too, must take up their own cross if they wish to be his disciples. 

At the time, the cross was very much a symbol of punishment, death and defeat. But because of what Christ has done, it now has meaning. And you and I know the cross is not up atop the church as a decoration, and it’s not meant to simply help the birds or air traffic to identify us - it’s there to remind us. Standing there through the snows of winter and the heat of summer, it reminds us of God’s great love for us, and that our crosses, in as much as they’re united to His, have meaning.  

So when you’re walking by, or coming or going, or maybe you live close enough to see it from your home, look up - there’s a reason why that cross is there. “We adore you O Christ, and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.”
 
Wishing you all God’s blessings this week! 

Keeping you in prayer, and say one for me! 

- Fr. Nate