Hello, St. Margaret Mary Parish,

I am starting today with a PSA: Don’t forget to turn your clocks back this Saturday night as we “Fall Back” 1 hour with Daylight Saving Time.  At least no one should be late for Sunday Mass this week!

Tonight is the Circle 6 Rosary for Peace at St. Margaret Mary.  It begins at 6:30 PM in the main Church.

This Saturday we celebrate Halloween, also known as All Hallows Eve, which means on Sunday we celebrate All Saints Day.  Yes, this year, All Saints Day falls on a Sunday, so the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time readings and Mass setting are replaced with the readings and Mass setting for All Saints Day.

If you recall from my update last week, the celebration of All Saints Day has evolved over the centuries. Initially focused on martyrs, it gradually expanded to include all who had lived holy lives and attained sainthood, whether or not they were canonized. This change reflected the growing understanding of the communion of saints, which emphasizes that sainthood is open to all Christians who achieve spiritual perfection.

Don’t ever forget, all of us are called to become saints!

Also, don’t forget, 2 deadlines fall on this weekend as well:

First, Oct 31st is the LAST DAY to sign up to sponsor an entire family for our annual Family to Family Christmas project:

Please email fam2fam@smmomaha.org by Saturday with your request.

• Please include your name, email, and phone number.
• State your request for a family. Expect a minimum of three children.
• Indicate how many children you can buy for, with a minimum of three.
• Provide three gifts per child, spending 20–40 per gift
• Individual gift selection will open on November 9th. It is through your generosity that families and seniors will receive aid and support during the Christmas season. Hundreds of children and families are blessed by this outreach. I encourage us all to help support this mission. I think of the Prayer of Saint Francis, which says, “For it is in giving that we receive.” Please take this opportunity to give!

Second, Nov. 1 - Fr. Michael Uganda Education Fund



• A reminder that orders are due for our annual scone sale benefiting the St. Margaret Mary Fr. Michael Mukasa Uganda Education Fund, which supports educational opportunities for students in Uganda. Enjoy two delicious flavors while supporting this important mission! Scone pickup is Wednesday, November 4, from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM at Mary Pat Paul’s home, 5501 Harney Street. Pickup is in the back along 55th Street and the driveway. Questions? Call or text 402-659-8587.

On All Souls’ Day, and during the entire month of November, we remember our departed brethren as we go to the cemetery where they are buried, attain indulgences for them, give alms, do some good work, ask for Masses to be said in remembrance, all on behalf of those close to us and to others we may have neglected during the year. Please join us Monday evening, November 2nd, for our SMM All Souls’ Day Mass at 6 PM, followed by a light reception in the East Foyer of the Church immediately following. Click here to submit All Souls' Day Intentions.

The first week of November is also National Vocation Awareness Week. I encourage you to please pray for young men and women to hear and have the courage to answer God’s invitation to them to consider Priesthood and Religious Life. It is also important that we pray for healthy, strong marriages during this National Vocations Awareness Week as well.

I would like to point out a couple of items happening next weekend, November 7-8.  On November 8, at the 10:00 AM Mass, we will have a special blessing of prayer shawls for our military families. It is a wonderful way for us as a parish community to show our love and support for those who serve our country and for the families who make sacrifices alongside them. Prayer is such an important part of our Catholic faith, and these prayer shawls serve as a tangible reminder that our military families are remembered and held close in our thoughts and prayers. I am grateful to everyone who has helped make this ministry possible, and I ask that we continue to keep our military members and their families in our prayers.

After all the Masses next weekend, November 7 & 8, Blest Art - Holy Land Olive Wood sales will be in the East Foyer of our Church. Blest Art Inc. helps the struggling Christian families of Bethlehem by marketing their artwork in the United States. Due to this work, many Christian families maintain their livelihood and their ancestral homes in the land of our Lord. They will have hand-carved nativity sets, statues, crosses, rosaries, and many other pieces of beautiful olive wood art. I invite you to visit our display and to consider purchasing a piece of art from the Holy Land. In doing so, you will help support the many families who depend on this form of art for their living. Your purchase will make a difference in the lives of many Christian families. These are also great Christmas gifts as well as First Communion, Confirmation, and Wedding gifts. They accept cash, checks, and all major credit cards. Please note that they do not ask for, nor do they accept, any donations.  

Prayerfully yours in Christ,

Fr. Jim Keiter

The Archbishop’s Annual Appeal is underway! The Appeal helps build One Church throughout the Archdiocese of Omaha, supporting parishes, schools, and ministries across northeast Nebraska as they grow into missional communities.

Please watch the video from Archbishop McGovern and click on the image to learn more about the Appeal. You can make your gift using the button below. Brochures, pledge cards, return envelopes, and a giving guide are also available in this weekend’s bulletin.

I encourage everyone to pray the Annual Appeal Prayer and submit any prayer intentions for Archbishop McGovern to remember in his prayers.

Lord Jesus, Through this Most Holy Sacrament of Your Body and Blood, we are united with our brothers and sisters in every parish across the Archdiocese of Omaha as one people, one Church.

Make us Your Sacrament, that we might bring Your love and mercy to the world.

Increase our desire to be Your disciples, and show us how to be generous with our gifts of time, talents and resources.