October 31st 2025_Catholic Standard_251031_221301

Caribbean bishops warn against

On Saturday October 25th the Bishops of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) issued a Press Release highlighting their deep concern regarding the increasing militarisation of Caribbean waters, warning that the development poses serious risks to the region’s social, economic, and humanitarian stability. Below is the Press Release in full:

From the Bishops of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC)

To the People of God in the Caribbean

words of Pope Paul VI, who in 1966, at the institution of this observance, urged humanity to pursue negotiation rather than war, we recognise that once again we stand at a crossroads. Dialogue and cooperation are urgently needed to ease mounting geopolitical tensions and to foster lasting peace.

Pope praysforvictimsof HurricaneMelissa - p2

Church leaders plead for end to Sudan’s ‘forgotten war’ - p3

A Christian Perspective on Social Issues - p4

Sunday Scripture - p5

The Word and the World - p6

Shiriri celebrates 40th anniversary - p7

God'sJusticeisbetterthantheDeathPenalty - p7

'We found listening and support: Abuse survivors meet Pope Leo - p8

Children’s Page - p9

Growing in Grace Week 71 - p10

Church must support concrete pro-family policies, pope says - p12

Region 2 Communities bid farewell to Mother Sanguinis SSVM - p13

The Bishops of the Antilles Episcopal Conference view with grave concern the recent build-up of naval and other military assets in the Southern Caribbean, and the potential implications this poses for the socio-economic, political, and humanitarian well-being of our region and its people.

In a few weeks, the world will commemorate the 59th World Day of Peace. As we reflect on the

At the same time, we must speak clearly to the moral challenges facing our region. The narcotics trade continues to devastate Caribbean societies eroding lives, futures, and the very moral fabric of our communities. This is a grave crisis for the Church and for families everywhere, and one we are duty-bound to confront. Yet, the arbitrary and unwarranted taking of life (please turn to p10)

Cathedral Memory Lane 4: The Lady Altar - p14

SSVM Sisters welcome new Superior - p14

Sunday, November 2nd

08:00hrs – Mass at Church of the Ascension, New Amsterdam

10:15hrs – Mass at Guardian Angels, Hope Town, West Berbice.

Sunday, November 9th

07:30hrs – Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Brickdam

The Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.

May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth.

To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever.

Amen

( lines, piles of debris, and vehicles submerged in muddy water are a few of the images coming out of Jamaica, in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

On Wednesday, 29 October, at the end of the General Audience, Pope Leo XIV's thoughts went out to the Caribbean, hit by a storm of “catastrophic power” that has caused “violent flooding” Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Cuba, near the town of Chivirico in the province of Santiago de Cuba, and has already left thousands of people displaced, and damaged homes and infrastructure, including several hospitals.

In his appeal, Pope Leo assured everyone of his closeness and said he is praying “for those who have lost their lives, for those who are fleeing and for those populations who, awaiting the storm's developments, are experiencing hours of anxiety and concern”.

He went on to encourage civil authorities “to do everything possible”, and thanked Christian communities and volunteer organizations “for the relief they are providing”.❖

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end to Sudan’s ‘forgotten war’

(OSV News) As a paramilitary group announced the capture of el-Fasher, the besieged capital of Sudan’s North Darfur state, Catholic Church leaders amplified calls for the protection of “forgotten” civilians including thousands of children trapped in the western Sudanese city.

On Oct. 26, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and its allies announced the capture of the main army base, and technically the city, after an 18-month deadly siege. The paramilitary forces had intensified bombings, heavy artillery and drone attacks, forcing the army to retreat from the base.

260,000 civilians are trapped

Around 260,000 civilians including 130,000 children remain trapped in the area’s main camp for internally displaced people, enduring desperate conditions without aid, according to the United Nations and Catholic Church agencies.

“It is a forgotten war because the people are really forgotten,” Italian Bishop Christian Carlassare of Bentiu in neighboring South Sudan told OSV News.

“Unfortunately, it’s a forgotten war for the international community, but it’s not forgotten for the weapon merchants, who are making a lot of profits out ofthis war,” he cried out.

In an Oct. 29 appeal, the U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, best known as OCHA, warned of a dramatic escalation of violence in and around el-Fasher, “condemning in the strongest terms reported attacks by the Rapid Support Forces against civilians, civilian infrastructure and humanitarian workers.”

Reports of executions, sexual violence

Credible reports “point to widespread violations, including summary executions, house-to-house raids, sexual violence, and attacks along escape routes preventing civilians from reaching safety,” OCHA said. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization’s director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said in an Oct. 29 X post that “WHO is appalled and

extremely difficult to reach el-Fasher orget information from the city.

“These days, there is no communication. There is no network. I do not have information about el-Fasher,” he said when asked to give an update on the situation.

5.4% of population is Christian Islam is the predominant religion in Sudan, accounting for 91% of the 48 million people. Of the rest of the population, 5.4% are Christians and 2.8% follow Indigenous religions, according to the 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom by the U.S. Department ofState.

LITURGY NOTES

All Saints and All Souls

deeply shocked by reports of the tragic killing of more than 460 patients and companions at Saudi Maternity Hospital” in el-Fasher, following “recent attacks and the abduction ofhealth workers.”

Prior to this latest attack, WHO has verified 185 attacks on health care in Sudan with 1,204 deaths and 416 injuries of health care workers and patients since the start of the conflict in April2023.

Attacks on health workers, patients

“Forty-nine of these attacks occurred this year alone, killing 966 people,” Ghebreyesus said in his post. “All attacks on health care MUST STOP immediately and unconditionally,” he continued, and patients, health personnel and health facilities “must be protected under International Humanitarian Law.”

UNICEF, the U.N. children’s agency, said children in el-Fasher were starving because the agency’s lifesaving nutrition services were being blocked.

“Blocking humanitarian access is a grave violation of children’s rights and the lives of children are hanging in the balance,” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF’sexecutivedirector.

During the siege, the paramilitary forces did not allow food aid and medicines into the city and its gunmen shot dead any civilians trying to flee. Dozens died in the indiscriminate bombardment and from starvation and a cholera outbreak, while humanitarian agencies warned that the paramilitary was using starvation asa weapon in the blockade.

Appeal by Comboni Missionaries

“We cannot accept what is happening in el-Fasher. While the international media are silent about Sudan, we cannot forget,” said an appeal for Sudan by the Comboni Missionaries on Oct. 17.

“Dozens of women, men and children have already lost their lives due to lack of food,” the Comboni Missionariessaid.

According to Father Abdallah Hussein, vicar general of the El Obeid Diocese, which includes the Darfur region, the blockade had made it

The current war pits the Sudan Armed Forces the national army led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces under Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, known as “Hemedti.” The war began on April 15, 2023, and since then, thousands ofpeople have died in the conflict.

An estimated 9 million Sudanese are internally displaced, while nearly 4 million havefled across the border to settle as refugees in the neighboring countries including Chad, Egypt, South Sudan and the Central African Republic.

Exploiting natural resources

Bishop Carlassare said the fighting faction and their backers were now exploiting natural resources, especially gold, to fund the war.

“We are witnessing the exploitation of these resources to continue the conflict. They are stealing twice from the people. They are stealing peace and then the natural resources,” he told OSV News.

According to the bishop, the church could make the Sudanese situation more and more known, especially since the people are living in misery, suffering poverty and lacking most basic services.

He said Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku Andali of El Obeid has been traveling around Europe in recent days, testifying on the atrocities in Sudan, especially the tragic situation in Darfur.

Hoping for Vatican diplomacy

“I hope the diplomacy of the Vatican can bring the people together, and especially to speak for those that are most abandoned,” Bishop Carlassare said.

In Nairobi, Father Andrew Kaufa, a member of the Montfort Missionaries, who serves as communications coordinator for the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa, or AMECEA, said the regional bishops were very concerned about the situation in Sudan.

“They have discussed how they can visit the country physically to express solidarity with the bishops and the remaining Christians. They will also continue to pray for the country and issue messages of solidarity,” Father Kaufa told OSV News. ❖

This year the solemnity of All Saints is on Saturday November 1st and the Commemoration of All Souls on Sunday November 2nd. Following is the program of religious observances. On Saturday all Masses celebrated are of All Saints as is the Liturgy of the Hours (Morning and Evening prayer, etc.). Even though the Saturday evening Mass is of All Saints, it satisfies the need to attend Sunday Mass.

On Sunday the Masses celebrated are of the Commemoration of All Souls. However, the Liturgy of the Hours is that of the Sunday (31st week in Ordinary Time) - if the Office is prayed publicly the Office of the Dead may be used. The Gloria and Creed are not used in the All Souls Liturgy.

Solemnity of All Saints

Saturday November 1st

• Masses - All Saints (including Saturday Evening)

• Liturgy of the Hours: All Saints Commemoration of All Souls

Sunday November 2nd

• Masses - All Souls

• Liturgy of the Hours: Sunday Week 3. If prayed in public the Office of the Dead may be used.

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica Sunday,

November 9th

The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica is celebrated on November 9th, this year a Sunday. Since the feast is seen as a feast of the Church, the Body of Christ, it supersedes the normal Sunday celebration so all liturgy (Masses, Liturgy of the Hours) will be thatof the feast.

The Basilica (actually the archbasilica, the only one in the world,) is known as ‘the mother and head of all churches’. It is the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, and since all bishops are to be in union with the Pope, the feast speaks of the unity of the Church, the Body of Christ. ❖

A Christian Perspective on Social

By GHK Lall

The way of Christ can bring the way of the lash

Some get an opportunity to walk the true way. They try and the devil goes into overdrive to topple them from that call, those efforts. I tell all Christians; the way of Christ is loaded with its perils. It is where the essence of our faith comes under the severest tests.

It was Jesus himself who said that he came and those who come into his orbit will feel the wrath of those who have no time for the walkways of God. Worse yet, they take offense at those who take a stand for Jesus, walk his way, no matter how demanding. When that is done, it shows others in a lesser light. Though not an objective, it’s the reaction that follows. It is in this environment, as some can attest.

In the sight of those who have much to conceal, none can be that straight in a world full of temptations and contradictions. They must have something inside their closets, some skeleton that would knock them to the ground. When none of those can be found through legitimate means, then what is required is made up to wave before the world: ‘see! Got him! He or she is not as straight and untouched as made out to be. There is that commandment written in stone, “thou shalt not bear false witness.” If false witnesses came out of the woodwork to condemn Jesus himself, then observant Christians and steadfast believers should have a good idea of what to expect, how hard their lot could be. Look at the lives of the apostles around Jesus, and how they stood up in the times of the Romans, and those calumnies from the learned men of the law who partnered with the brutal occupiers. Almost all of them were fell by the hands of the oppressors, who were bent on snuffing out their light. The tribulations of the later apostle to the Gentiles, St Paul, spoke volumes of the swords that are raised against those standing for the Word and

spreading it.

We spread it today, whether in Guyana or elsewhere, by the choices we make. The easiest action in the world is to join with those who have the power to make life unchallenging and smooth as honey. Just as sweet also, if we are of that disposition. It is tempting to forget the way of the Lord; or to attempt to do the impossible. In the words of Jesus, serve two masters at the same time. It may work for a time, but inevitably, everybody ends up unhappy.

Where is one’s heart truly? With us, or against us, that is the question that can only be dodged from so long. Make a call, take a stand, for Jesus, and fear overwhelms the minds of those who have much to fear. What is he or she going to say? How much of an exposure do such people represent? What kind of perils do they bring? It is why some from Jesus’s flock twist themselves into the right angles, so as to gain the approval of those who control much, those who have demonstrated how generous they can be, but only when it is in their interests to do so.

Thus, few speak out. For Jesus. For the poor. For truth, light, and right. Going along to get along is to ignore the call of Jesus and put to shame the

reverence each one of us who call ourselves faithful believers should have for his sacrifice. On the other hand, when there are those who draw a line and try their best to walk with Jesus, the blows come from all directions. We are familiar with father against son and mother against daughter, and the reverse, as said by Jesus. But there is also another aspect to his wide not specified: princes and powers and principalities against paupers, the poor of spirit, and the people. The people who speak out, the people who don

The history of the way, the history of those who followed in the footsteps of Jesus, is littered with those who were made to pay a harsh price. It is an opportunity to rejoice in being found worthy to be tested in adversity. We make Jesus proud when we stand unflinchingly against what is hurled our way. When his way is embraced, then the way of the lash follows. Again, look at what they did to the Master. It is inconceivable that his servants would be spared. The charge is to hold head high even when the darkest valley is walked through. God loves.❖

Prayer for our Priests

Gracious and loving God, we thank your for the gift of our priests.

Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.

Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.

Set their souls on fire with love for your people.

Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.

Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel. Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.

Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest. Amen

FIRST READING Isaiah 25:6-9

The Lord will destroy death forever.

On this mountain, the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine wines, of food rich and juicy, of fine strained wines.

On this mountain he will remove the mourning veil covering all peoples, and the shroud enwrapping all nations, he will destroy Death for ever.

The Lord will wipe away the tears from every cheek; he will take away his people’s shame everywhere on earth, for the Lord has said so.

That day, it will be said: ‘See, this is our God in whom we hoped for salvation; the Lord is the one in whom we hoped.We exult and we rejoice that he has saved us.’

Responsorial Psalm Ps 26: 1, 4. 7-9, 13-14 Rv V13

Response: The Lord is my light and my help. Or

I believe that I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.

1. The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life; before whom shall I shrink? Response

2. There is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this I long, to live in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, to savour the sweetness of the Lord, to behold his temple. Response

3. O Lord, hear my voice when I call; have mercy and answer.

Itis your face,OLord, that I seek;hide notyour face. Response

4. I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.

Hope in him, hold firm and take heart. Hope in the Lord! Response

On this commemoration of All Souls Day, the Church turns her gaze toward all the faithful departed, entrusting them to God’s mercy and proclaiming once again our hope in the Resurrection. The readings selected for this day speak with one voice: death does not

SECOND READING Romans 5:5-11

Having died to make us righteous, is it likely that he would now fail to save us from God’s anger?

Hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us. We were still helpless when at his appointed moment Christ died for sinful men. It is not easy to die even for a good man –though of course for someone really worthy, a man might be prepared to die – but what proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Having died to make us righteous, is it likely that he would now fail to save us from God’s anger?

When we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, we were still enemies; now that we have been reconciled, surely we may count on being saved by the life of his Son? Not merely because we have been reconciled but because we are filled with joyful trust in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have already gained our reconciliation.

have the final word, for those who live and die in Christ will share in His victory over the grave.

St. Paul’s words from Romans remind us that our hope is not abstract but rooted in Baptism. “Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (Rom 6:3). To be joined to Christ in His death means that we will also share in His Resurrection. This is the central truth of Christian discipleship we belong to Christ, in life and in death, and He will not abandon us.

In the Gospel, Jesus Himself assures us: “Everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last

GOSPEL

Young man, I tell you to get up.

Luke 7:11-17

Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a great number of people. When he was near the gate of the town it happened that a dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a considerable number of the townspeople were with her. When the Lord saw her he felt sorry for her. ‘Do not cry,’ he said.

Then he went up and put his hand on the bier and the bearers stood still, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you to get up’.

And the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Everyone was filled with awe and praised God saying, ‘A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people’. And this opinion of him spread throughout Judaea and all over the countryside. ❖

day” (Jn 6:40). These words are not merely a distant promise, but an invitation to live differently now. Eternal life is God’s greatest gift to us, yet like all gifts, it comes with responsibility. To believe in Christ is to entrust ourselves fully to Him and to shape our lives according to His will.

This is where the message of stewardship comes into focus. All that we are and all that we have is entrusted to us by God, not for our possession but for our faithful use. On this All Souls Day, the Church not only calls us to pray for those who have gone before us, but also to reflect on how we are living our earthly days. How are we using the gift of time? How are we sharing

our talents in service to others? How are we offering our treasure in gratitude to God?

Today, we are reminded that our time on earth is limited, and every moment is an opportunity to love God and neighbor. Just as we entrust the departed to God’s mercy, we are called to entrust ourselves daily to His grace, living as stewards who long for the fullness of life in Him. May this All Souls Day renew our faith in Christ’s promise and inspire us to live each day as disciples who await the day when He will fulfill His word: “I shall raise him on the last day.” ❖

[www.catholicsteward.com/blog/ ]

Gospel Reflection

In our Church, there is an established tradition that we pray for our dead. Today’s celebration is a special day when we pray especially for our loved ones who have gone before us. On All Souls Day, Catholics all over the world gather to remember and to pray for those who have died and gone to their eternal rest. This tradition keeps us in contact as one large community of saints, those who have passed on, those who are alive today and those who are still to come. In some countries where the Catholic tradition is strong, cemeteries are cleaned, decorated and lit up with candles and lamps as a way of keeping strong links with dead relatives and friends. It is a time for remembering, not with sadness but with joy for a life that used to mean so much to us.

The Church believes that because even the best among us are weak, limited and imperfect in some way, thevastmajorityofpeople willneed some time of preparation and purification before they can enter the fullness of life with our Creator. Purgatory is the state of purification for those who have died before they can enter into fellowship with God and the saints. And because of our belief in the communion of saints, we know that we can pray for and on behalf of our loved ones who have passed away. This means that our relationship with those we love does not end with death, nor does our spiritual commitment to them ever end.

As we visit cemeteries on All Souls’ Day to remember and honour our dead and to pray for them, we are reminded that at some time in the future, others will be doing the same for us because death takes everyone in the end. Death is our passport to the place from which no one returns. Throughout our lifetime we advance towards the moment when death will claim us. It is said that we begin to die from the moment we are born. But as Christians, such gloomy and sad thoughts which must be a part of our All Souls’ celebration should not depress us. On the contrary, these thought should cause us to take time to reflect on our own lives, to see is there is meaning there, if all our words and actions result from positive values and to see if we have our priorities right. But while death is an important reality from which we cannot escape, it is life that really matters. And if we are to live life according to Christian values, all our actions must be based on the commandment to love God and neighbour, trying always to do what is good and decent. After all, Jesus came to give us life to its fullest.❖

[From: Journeying with the Word of God, The Religious Education Department, DioceseofGeorgetown, Guyana ]

TheWordandtheWorld

YOU SHALL NOT MURDER

By Mike James

THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT says it clearly and simply “You shall not kill (Kill meaning Murder)”. Jesus repeats andadds Mt 5:21-24

'You have heard how it was said to our ancestors, You shall not murder; and anyone who does murder must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you, anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will answer for it before the court; anyone who calls a brother or sister "Fool" will answer for it before the Religious authorities; and anyone who calls them "Traitor" will answer for it in hell fire. So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come backandpresentyouroffering.’

Christianity, the following of Jesus and his own example, is very clear. It is also NOT easy.

Wikipedia reports that as of 29 October 2025, the US government has claimed that in recent weeks it has executed at least 61 drug traffickers from 15 vessels it has struck and destroyed8 in the Caribbean and 7 in the Pacific. Burnt and dismembered bodies have washed up on Trinidad beaches. The Wall Street Journal has reported that fishermen in Trinidad and Tobago have stayed close to shore or stopped going out to sea altogether because of fear of U.S. military activity in the region. The BBC reports that fishermen in Venezuela are similarly afraid to engage in theirlivelihood.

The Pentagon said it is deploying the world's largest and most advanced aircraft carrier Gerald R Ford to the Caribbean. Although the strike group's

composition was not mentioned in the announcement, the USS Gerald R. Ford has previously traveled with the recently decommissioned USS Normandy cruiser and the destroyers USS Ramage, USS Carney, USS Roosevelt, and USS Thomas Hudner in past deployments, per the Department of Defense.

The Associated Press reports that the US Navy has already deployed “eight warships in the region, three destroyers, three amphibious assault ships, a cruiser and a smaller littoral combat ship that’s designed for coastal waters. The three assault ships make up an amphibious readiness group and carry an expeditionary unit of Marines. As a result, those ships also have on board a variety of Marine helicopters, Osprey tilt rotor aircraft and Harrier jets that have the capability of either transporting large numbers of Marines or striking targetson landandsea.”

Ten Former Heads of these Member States within the Caribbean Community (Antigua & Barbuda, Belize, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica and St. Lucia) have issued an urgent plea to maintain the Caribbean region as a Zone of Peace where the Rule of Law prevails.

“We are impelled to urge a pull back from military build up to avoid any diminution of peace, stability and development within our regional space that has the potential to pull the region intoconflictswhicharenotofourmaking.”

The Catholic Bishops of the Antilles Caribbean region, in the context of the sudden accelerated build up of US armed forces in the Caribbean and the executions of the crews and passengers of multiple small boats declared in an October25pressrelease:

“We must speak clearly to the moral challenges facing our region. The

narcotics trade continues to devastate Caribbean societies eroding lives, futures, and the very moral fabric of our communities. This is a grave crisis for the Church and for families everywhere, and one we are duty-bound to confront. Yet, the arbitrary and unwarranted taking of life cannot be justified as a means of resolution. Such acts violate the sacredness of humanlife.

“The presence of warships and the disruption of marine livelihoods within our Caribbean waters represent real and immediate threats to regional stability and to the welfare of our nations,” the region’s bishops added.

“As peoples united by a shared heritage and collective identity, we must continue to reject aggression and intimidation as means of resolving conflict orideologicaldifferences.”

Against that backdrop of fear and uncertainty, the AEC bishops urged Catholics in the region toward faith.

“We call for renewed focus on faith and trust in the Lord,” the bishops wrote. “We are attentive to the voices and expressed concerns of our people and urge that we be guided by the teachings of Scripture. We are commanded to love one another even our enemies.”

“The world may be at war, but we are called to pray for peace and to act in peace.”

Too many people have already been murdered in our Caribbean region in a “War on Drugs” that has no respect for human life, and is threatening to escalate into more devastating killings, invasions and projects of “regime change”. They can only lead to distraction from addressing the root issues that fuel growing drug addiction and deaths in the US and other “so called” developed societies.❖

Shiriri celebrates 40th anniversary

Journeying with the Word of God

MAKING THE WORD OF GOD YOUR OWN

1st Reading: The prophet presents us with a message of hope in the face of grief. The Lord will one day wipe away all tears and bring peace and joy.

2nd Reading: The pain and separation caused by death should not cause the Christian to despair as the fruit of the resurrection is hope and joyful trust in the Lord.

Central Rupununi, Region 9, Essequibo, Guyana, joyfully celebrated their 40th Parish

Gospel: In the face of death we have the comforting words of Jesus that eternal life is ours. We only have to believe in him.

Step 2: ApplyingthevaluesoftheReadings toyourdailylife.

1. The prophet Isaiah says “The Lord will wipe away the tears from every cheek.” How does such a statement give us hope?

and a new crucifix. After forty years, faith, hope, and love are

God's Justice is better than the Death Penalty

Fr. Carl Philadelphia and The Sisters of Mercy on Wednesday, October 29th issued the following joint Press Statement: God's Justice is better than the Death Penalty

Our parishes and nation are united in grief over the tragic bombing at the Mobil Gas Station on Regent Street, which claimed the innocent life of a six -year-old child. This act of terror has wounded our community deeply. We pray for the child's family and all affected by this senseless violence.

In moments like this, when pain and anger run deep, our hearts cry out for justice. Yet, as followers of Christ, we must remember that true justice reflects the mercy and love of God, not the desire for revenge. The Catholic Church teaches that the death penalty is inadmissible in all circumstances, even in cases of terrorism, because it denies the God-given dignity that remains in every human life. No crime, however grave, can erase the image of God imprinted on the human soul.

We therefore call upon the

authorities to seek justice through means that protect society and uphold the sanctity of life. Life imprisonment and other non-lethal measures can achieve justice without repeating the cycle of death. Let us stand firm in faith, trusting that God's justice is better than the death penaltyfor His justice restores, heals, and opens even the hardest hearts to repentance. In this dark hour, may His light guide our nation toward peace, mercy, and hope.

Fr. Carl Philadelphia & The Sisters of Mercy ❖

2. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says “remembering our mortality helps us realise that we have only a limited time in which to bring our lives to fulfilments.” What is this statement saying to you?

3. Do you believe that people live today as if they are deaf to the fact of death?

4. Do you think that because we will all die at some time, we should do anything necessary to ensure we enjoy this life as fully as possible regardless of the effect we can have on others?

Step 3: Accepting the message of God’s Wordinyourlifeoffaith.

All Souls’ Day reminds us that we Christians continue to have a connection with our loved ones even after their death. We still have a spiritual commitment to pray for and on behalf of them, that God will cleanse them of whatever faults they may have and that they will eventually enter into eternal life with our Creator God. All Souls’ Day also forcefully brings home the certainty of our own death and so offers us the opportunity to take stock of where we are going with our lives.

Step 4: Somethingtothink&prayabout

1. It is not easy to think or talk about death, especially if it is our own we are reflecting on. We therefore tend to put all thoughts of death aside, especially when we are young and strong. So while death will come some day, we can probably delay its arrival is we do not think about it. But shouldn’t the thought of death make us pause to reflect on the life we are leading? ❖

[From: Journeying with the Word of God, The Religious Education Department, Diocese of Georgetown, Guyana ]

Abuse survivors meet Pope Leo:

'We found listening and support'

VATICAN CITY (CNS) Pope Leo XIV met with a coalition of survivors of abuse and victims’ advocates for the first time at the VaticanOct.20.

Membersof theboard of EndingClergy Abuse met with the pope for about an hour in a closed-door meeting that was laterconfirmedby theVatican.

“This was a deeply meaningful conversation,” Gemma Hickey, ECA board president and survivor of clergy abuse in Canada, said in a press release. “It reflects a shared commitment to justice, healingandrealchange.”

“Survivors have long sought a seat at the table, and today we felt heard,” Hickey said in the statement.

“Pope Leo is very warm, he listened,” Hickey said at a news conference, according to Reuters. “We told him that we come as bridge-builders, ready to walk together toward truth, justice andhealing.”

While the group of six people representing ECA met with the pope, video clips from the Vatican also showed a separate meeting between Pope Leo and Pedro Salinas, a Peruvian journalist andabuse survivor.

Salinas, a former member of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae who suffered physical and psychological abuse by the movement’s founder, Luis Fernando Figari, is seen in the footage giving the pope a copy of his new book, “The Truth SetsUsFree,” inSpanish.

The book recounts his attempts to bring to light the truth about the movement, which was eventually suppressed.

The international coalition of survivors and human rights advocates works to end clergy abuse, enforce accountability and promote justice and truth, accordingto itswebsite, ecaglobal.org.

The group’s major initiative is a “zero tolerance” policy that would mandate: church personnel to report abuse to civil authorities; immediately remove accused clergy pending investigations and provide victims with access to information and files related to their cases.

ECA members shared the Zero Tolerance Initiative with the pope during the meeting, “emphasizing the importance of consistent global standards, survivor-centered policies,” the pressrelease said.

Tim Law, ECA co-founder and a board member from the United States, said during a news conference after the meeting that Pope Leo acknowledged “there was great resistance” to the idea of a universal zero-tolerance law, accordingto TheAssociated Press.

However, Law said he told the pope the coalition wanted to work with him and the Vatican to help the idea gain traction, the AP reported.

“Our goal is not confrontation, but accountability, transparency, and a willingness to walk together toward solutions,” Law said in the press release. “The Church has a moral responsibility to support survivors and prevent futureharm.”

Janet Aguti, ECA board vice president, said in a statement, “We came not only to raise our concerns, but also to explore how we might work together to ensure the protection of children and vulnerable adults around the world,” adding that collaboration is possible “andnecessary.”

“I left the meeting with hope,” Aguti, a Ugandan survivor, said at the news conference, according to Reuters. “It is a big step forus.”

Matthias Katsch, a co-founder and board member from Germany, said at the news conference that the pope seems to still be “in a phase where he is trying to find out how to best address these issues,” Reuters reported. “The times where a pope is saying one sentence and everything is settled isover.”

The meeting came after the ECA sent a letter to Pope Leo after his election in early May. “In a gesture of openness, Pope Leo XIV responded positively, welcoming the opportunity for a direct and respectful conversation about the path forward,” the group said in its pressrelease.

The six board members attending the meeting also noted “the emotional significance of the dialogue,” the statement said.

“The board concluded the meeting by emphasizing the urgent need for continued dialogue, compassion, and collaborative action to build a future where safety, accountability, and dignity are not only upheld but where the voices of survivors lead the way,” it said.

When he served as bishop of Chiclayo in Peru, Pope Leo, who is a canon lawyer, had set up a commission to deal with abusecasesin hisdiocese.

He had told the Peruvian newspaper, La República, in 2019 that, “We reject cover-ups and secrecy” because they “causea lot ofharm.”

“We have to help people who have suffered due to wrongdoing,” he had told the paper.

Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI had also met with abuse victims during theirpontificates.❖

Survivors warn papal commission that

which highlighted victims’ calls for accountability, transparency

Source:

It urges the Church to move empty gestures” and face its moral duty to prevent abuse, support survivors and

s safeguarding approaches and measures, the commission said it relied on extensive input and feedback from victims/survivors in its second annual report.

As a consequence, the report features a chapter listing more than 20 major concerns drawn up by its victim/survivor focus group, which included: an ongoing lack of accountability for Church leaders and resistance to safeguarding reforms; the risk of

retaliation and rejection for whistleblowers; the continued ministry of known perpetrators; the need to vet all Church personnel properly; and the need for a “mature approach” to reparation.

“The primary need from victims/ survivors is not financial compensation but rather recognition of harm, genuine apologies, and meaningful action to prevent future abuses,” the report said.

“In many cases, however, victims/ survivors report that the Church has responded with empty settlements, performative gestures, and a persistent refusal to engage with victims/ survivors in good faith,” it said.

“Figures of authority within the Church who perpetrate or enable abuse have perhaps viewed themselves as too essential and important to be held accountable.

“The Church believes herself to be central to God’s plan for humanity, but God’s promises to the Church are not a ‘too essential to fail’ free pass of impunity: to the contrary, the Church needs to remember that judgment begins within the household of God.”

The papal commission’s Annual Report on Church Policies and Procedures for Safeguarding is meant to serve “as both compass and chronicle in the Church’s global pilgrimage toward accountability,” Archbishop Thibault Verny of Chambéry, France, president of the papal commission, wrote in the document’s introduction. Each year, the report focuses on a different set of bishops’ conferences, religious institutes and offices of the Roman Curia, and this year’s report also included a lay association: the Focolare movement.❖

Dear Boys and Girls,

All Saints Day is celebrated on November 1st. It is a day we celebrate the lives of the saints, those men and women whose goodness and devotion to God have inspired the world. Throughout history the saints have allowed God’s love to shine out through them, and their lives are examples for us to aspire to and follow.

What is a Saint?

The saints are men and women, young and old, from every walk of life who put their commitment to goodness and to God before everything else. Many were extraordinary people who lived extraordinary lives dedicated to serving and loving God. A saint is anyone who lets God’s love shine through them into the world. God calls all of us to holiness and to aspire to sainthood.

Can the saints in heaven help us?

We believe that through their prayers of intercession to God on our behalf, the saints in heaven can strengthen and help us to follow the path that leads us to God’s love and the everlasting happiness he offers to all.

All Souls Day is celebrated on November 2nd, the day after All Saints Day. On All Souls Day, Catholics all over the world gather to remember and to pray for those who have died and gone to their eternal rest.

In some countries where the Catholic tradition is strong, cemeteries are cleaned, decorated and lit up with candles and lamps as a way of keeping strong links with dead relatives and friends. It is a time for remembering, not with sadness but with joy for a life that used to mean so much to us.

cannot be justified as a means of resolution. Such acts violate the sacredness of human life.

Likewise, the disregard for the sovereignty of independent nations cannot be accepted as a reasonable measure in the name of border security. War or the threat of war is never the right solution. To quote Pope Leo at a recent General Audience, “We must never become accustomed to war”. His appeal echoes that of Pope Saint John XXIII, who proclaimed that “true peace can be born only from a heart disarmed of anxiety and the fear of war.”

The presence of warships and the disruption of marine livelihoods within our Caribbean waters represent real and immediate threats to regional stability and to the welfare of our nations. As peoples united by a shared heritage and collective identity, we must continue to reject aggression and intimidation as means of resolving conflict or ideological differences.

Our history has shown that discourse and negotiation have served us well as independent nations united in community andcooperation.

We are attentive to the voices and expressed concerns of our people and urge that we be guided by the teachings of Scripture. We are commanded to love one another even our enemies. The world may be at war, but we are called to pray for peace and to act in peace. In this Jubilee Year of Hope, as the Church continues the ancient tradition of pardon and restoration, we reaffirm our common goal and shared brotherhood that transcend borders and national interests.

The Church remains steadfast in the need to protect all in societyespecially those who are most vulnerable and economically marginalised. The objectives of securing our borders and the elimination of the narcotics trade must be pursued with the respect for law, the dignity of human life and with a tacit

understanding of our region’s deep commitment to peace.

To those entrusted with leadership, we appeal for a de-escalation of militarisation and a renewed commitment to dialogue and regional unity. To the faithful, we call for renewed focus on faith and trust in the Lord, resisting the discouragement and cynicism that threaten to overwhelm us. Acts of reconciliation, the faithful observance of the sacraments, and the family rosary remain powerful expressions of hope expressions that move heaven and can change the hearts of humankind.

We stand in solidarity with all the peoples of the Caribbean, especially those most directly affected by this situation. Together, we place our hope, trust, and prayers in the pursuit of a peaceful and just resolution that upholds human dignity, national sovereignty, and the common good of all. ❖

By Renika Anand

The fruits of morality

Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher once said “Morality is not properly the doctrine of how we may make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves worthy of happiness.”

Most beautiful paintings begin with a line; they begin with the stroke of a paintbrush or a pencil. The process of creation that follows this line is often centred around the line and the foundation it has provided. If the painter chooses to ignore the structure established, then he is also simultaneously surrendering a guide for the remainder of the process. He will thus be left to depend on his own intuition to complete the painting.

As we grow, we learn that there are some rules which govern human beings and how we must behave. There are actions which are objectively right and wrong, regardless of the situation we are in. Nevertheless, the world can be a chaotic place, and the difference between black and white often melts away into several shades of grey.

As we embark on our journey of life, we too, like the painter, must take the responsibility of drawing lines for ourselves. Then, no matter how difficult or confusing it is, we must ensure that we depend on the lines to guide us. If we make even a single choice that breaks the rules of morality, then we risk our lives becoming a long game of excuses and justifications. Let us not, in the pursuit of happiness, destroy the versions of ourselves that are worthy of enjoying the fruits of morality.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23 ❖

Tickets: $2,500

Church must support concrete

Leo XIV greets a baby at the end of an audience with faculty, staff, stu-

and alumni of the John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences

the

Oct. 24, 2025. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) A society cannot pretend to be pro-family if it does not adopt policies that allow parents and children to spend time together rather than always being worried about work, Pope Leo XIV said.

“In a society that often exalts productivity and speed at the expense of relationships, it becomes urgent to restore time and space to the love that is learned within the family, where the first experiences of trust, gift and forgiveness are woven forming the very fabric of social life,” he said Oct. 24.

Pope Leo made the comments during a meeting with faculty, staff, students and alumni of the John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences

St. John Paul II’s intuition Praising the intuition of St. John Paul II for launching the graduate school and Pope Francis for insisting its curriculum be multidisciplinary, Pope Leo asked for particular attention to drawing from and strengthening reflections on the role of the family in Catholic social teaching.

The institute, he said, is called to contribute to “the ongoing renewal of dialogue between family life, the world of work and social justice addressing issues of pressing relevance such as peace, the care of life and health, integral human development, youth employment, economic sustainability and equal opportunities between men and women, all of which influence the decision to marry and to bring children into the world.”

The church and its ministers cannot be “content merely to speak about the truth” concerning marriage and family life, Pope Leo said, but it must “promote concrete and coordinated actions in support of the family,” including through government policies.

Every year on November 2nd, the Catholic Church observes All Souls Day a day dedicated to praying for the faithful departed who are undergoing purification in Purgatory. This solemn commemoration is a time to remember our loved ones who have passed away, to pray for the repose of their souls, and to reflect on the hope of eternal life promised through Jesus Christ.

What is All Souls Day?

Enabling families ‘to live well’

“In fact, the quality of a country’s social and political life is measured above all by how it enables families to live well to have time for themselves and to cultivate the bonds that unite them,” the pope said.

In “Amoris Laetitia” (“The Joy of Love”), Pope Francis’ 2016 postsynodal exhortation on marriage, love and family life, Pope Leo said, the late pope wrote with tenderness to pregnant women, “urging them to cherish the joy of bringing a new life into the world.”

“His words express a simple yet profound truth: human life is a gift and must always be welcomed with respect, care and gratitude,” Pope Leo said. “Therefore, in the face of so many mothers who experience pregnancy in conditions of loneliness or marginalization, I feel the duty to remind everyone that both the civil and ecclesial communities must remain constantly committed to restoringfull dignity to motherhood.”

Too many ‘undervalue’ marriage

The pope also spoke about what he called “the growing tendency in many parts of the world to undervalue or even reject marriage.”

The church’s first response, he said, must be “to be attentive to the action of God’s grace in the heart of every man and woman. Even when young people make choices that do not correspond to the ways proposed by the church according to the teaching of Jesus, the Lord continues to knock at the door of their hearts, preparing them to receive a new

call.”

The church’s pastoral workers must recognize that “our time is marked not only by tensions and ideologies that confuse hearts, but also by a growing quest for spirituality, truth and justice especially among the young,” he said. “To welcome and care for this longing is one of the most beautiful and urgent tasks before us all.”❖

All Souls Day is rooted in the Christian belief in the Communion of Saints, which affirms the spiritual bond between the Church on earth (the Church Militant), the souls in Purgatory (the Church Suffering), and the saints in heaven (the Church Triumphant). The Church teaches that while those who die in God’s grace and friendship are assured of their eternal salvation, they may still need purification to enter fully into the presence of God. Our prayers, sacrifices, and acts of charity can assist these souls in their journey to heavenly glory.

The tradition of praying for the dead dates back to the early Church and is supported by passages in Scripture, such as 2 Maccabees 12:46, which states: “It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be

A Time to Remember and Pray

On All Souls Day, Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass, visit cemeteries, and offer special prayers for the souls of their deceased family members, friends, and all those who have no one to pray for them. The faithful often recite the Eternal Rest prayer: Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is considered the most powerful form of prayer for the souls in Purgatory. Lighting candles and placing flowers at the graves of loved ones are also common practices, symbolizing our faith and hope that they may soon enjoy the light and peace of Christ’s presence.

The Promise of Resurrection

All Souls Day invites us to reflect on the mystery of death and the promise of resurrection. While the day is marked by a certain solemnity, it is also filled with hope and trust in God’s infinite mercy. We remember that Christ, through His death and resurrection, has conquered sin and death. As St. Paul writes in Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life...nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Our prayers for the departed are an act of love and solidarity that transcend the boundaries of life and death. As we entrust our deceased loved ones to God’s mercy, we also deepen our own awareness of the fleeting nature of earthly life

[christiancatholicmedia.com ]

Reg. 2 Communities bid farewell to Mother Sanguinis

Sanguinis SSVM, who has faithfully served in the Diocese of Georgetown forthe past six years.

A special Holy Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated with representatives from all nine communities present, as they came together to express their love, appreciation, and gratitude for her years of dedicated service, spiritual guidance,andmaternalcare.

Reflecting on her time in Guyana, Mother shared “Today was a beautiful opportunity to give thanks to God for the last six years I was blessed to live and work in this beautiful land of many waters. I am very grateful for all of the nine communities present at the Holy

Mass today and for their confidence in me throughout these years, allowing me to serve as their spiritual mother. The wholediocese willforeverbe in my

Mother Sanguinis now prepares for her next mission, where she will serve as Local Superior in Emmitsburg, Maryland,USA.

“Please pray for many fruits from the seeds I, by God’s grace, was able to plant during my time here and God willing, one day I will be able to return,” she added.

The Diocese of Georgetown expresses its deep appreciation to Mother Sanguinis for her faithful witness, her devotion to the people of Guyana, and hertirelessservice to the Church.

We ask you to join us in praying for God’s continued blessings upon her as she begins this new chapter of mission continue to guide her steps always.

Karasabai says farewell and Aishalton

On Sunday October 19th - World Mission Sunday - the community of St. Thérèse, Karasabai, South Pakaraima Mountains, Region 9, Essequibo, Guyana,gathered forHolyMass.

It was a bittersweet occasion as parishioners bid farewell to Assistant Parish Priest Fr. Paul Martin SJ, who would soon be leaving to take up his

new mission in Aishalton, Deep South Rupununi, Region 9.

The community extended heartfelt thanks to Fr. Paul for his dedicated service and pastoral care to the people of the South Pakaraimas and wished him God’s continued blessings in his new ministry. In the interim, the community of Karasabai will be administeredbyFr.EdwinAnthony,SJ.

on that date.

By Francis Canzius

The Lady Altar

The Lady Altar in the Cathedral was imported from Italy and erected in 1931. It is made of grey marble and decorated with a grape vine, crosses, a moon and star. Below the statue are the Latin words “MATER DEI” meaning Mother of God. At a lower level are the words “SINE MACULA” meaning “Without Blemish” or Immaculate. The statue - also in marble - stands in an archway above the altar.

The Lady Altar was part of the Dedication ceremony of the cathedral in October 1960. This was carried out by Bishop Kenneth Turner SFM, who at the time was the Superior of the Scarboro Fathers in British Guiana. The altar was anointed and relics sealed into it. The entire structure - Statue, Angels and Altar area - is referred to as the Lady Chapel.❖

SSVM Sisters in Guyana welcome new Superior

The Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará (SSVM) Sisters, who minister to the communities in Region 2 (Pomeroon-Supernaam), Essequibo, Guyana, have welcomed their new Superior, Mother Regina, effective November 2025.

Mother Regina has been a member of the congregation for 22 years. After completing her formation, she received her first mission assignment in Guyana in 2009, where she served for one year and nine months. In 2010, she was sent to help establish a

new mission in Suriname, where she dedicated 13 years of service.

Mother Regina returned to Guyana in 2023 and has since been serving the faithful along the Essequibo Coast and the Pomeroon River. Her appointment as Superior marks a new chapter of leadership and service, continuing the SSVM Sisters’ mission of evangelization and pastoral care across the region.❖

(Adapted from Catholic Media Guyana Facebook)

Saint Martin de Porres was born in Lima, Peru in 1579, the son of Ana Velázquez, a Panamanian freedwoman of African and Native American descent, and Don Juan de Porres, a Spanish nobleman.

At the age of twelve he became apprenticed to a barber-surgeon; this served him well when, at the age of 15, he joined the Dominicans. He took charge of the dispensary, and worked long and hard for the sick and poor, always with great humility and kindness.

Martin's life reflected his great love for God and all of God's gifts. It is said he had many extraordinary abilities, including aerial flights, bilocation, instant cures, miraculous knowledge, spiritual knowledge and an excellent relationship with animals. Martin also founded a residence for orphans and abandoned children in the city of Lima, and was known for raising dowries for young girls in short amounts of time.

He was great friends with both St. Juan Macías, a fellow Dominican lay brother, and St. Rose of Lima, a lay Dominican.

Martin died in 1639, and was canonised in 1962, being proclaimed the patron of interracial justice. ❖ [From www.salfordliturgy.org.uk & www.catholic.org ]