Dear Parishioners,

We express our sympathy to Mary Lynn Haldi, a receptionist in our Rectory Office, on the passing of her mother, Harriett Zanzano, whose Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Thomas More. Please offer a prayer for Harriett & for the Haldi family that God’s peace may be with them all.

We also commend Judith Kucia into the loving hands of God as we celebrated her Funeral Mass on Monday, November 28th. Judy was married for almost 40 years and had 7 children & 18 grandchildren. She was a member of St. Leo’s for 55 years and served as both a lector and Eucharistic minister. She was a member of the Altar & Rosary Society and had a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, expressed by her praying of the rosary. Judy attended Mass regularly as a devout Catholic. May she rest in God’s peace.

I also had a funeral service for Linda Smith on Friday, December 2nd, with whom I met a number of times in the last few months. She and I talked about her illness with cancer and we celebrated the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and she was strengthened by the gift of the Eucharist. Linda was a courageous woman who had a loving relationship with her husband Robert of 43 years, and they were married here at St. Leo the Great back in 1979. Linda shared with me how important her Catholic faith was and I am comforted in knowing that she sought the help of the Church in her illness. Please remember her in prayer as well.

I was also sad to learn of the death of Mary Ann Kiesel, wife of Don, who died last month after a battle with cancer. Her funeral will be celebrated in the Spring. Mary Ann and Don were married for 63 years, and every Sunday I looked forward to seeing them, sitting together in church. We extend our sympathy to Don and assure him of our prayerful support.

Finally I ask your prayers for Tim Bruno, brother of Chuck Bruno of our parish. I had a funeral service for Tim last Sunday and many people were present there to pray with me for him. Tim was the type of person who was always smiling and willing to help anyone who came to him in need and so will be remembered for his kindness. We expressed our gratitude for the many people who were a part of his life and we commended his soul to God. May Tim and all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

I understand that the first episode of Season 3 of The Chosen will be showing this Sunday, December 11th. There is a free app that you can download to watch it but it may also be available on YouTube. Just do a search for The Chosen on Google and you will find links to their website for more information. It has a 4.9 star rating and is a wonderful series which tells the Gospel story of Jesus and his chosen disciples. I hope you will gain as much insight from it as I have.

My youngest sister Barbara (from Florida) will be in town this Sunday to visit with my dad and I will join her in celebrating the 103rd birthday of Mildred, our stepmother. We feel so blessed that our dad (95) & Mildred have been able to enjoy each other’s company for so many years together. I look forward to visiting with them and with my sister (who has gratefully survived all the hurricanes in Florida) and pray that God may continue to bless all our loved ones as we prepare to celebrate Christmas this month.