All Saints Day November 1

On November 1 we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints, a holy day of obligation. The Feast of All Saints gives all Catholics the opportunity to honor all the saints, both those solemnly recognized by the Church and those whose holiness of life is known only to God and to those who knew them. As Pope John Paul II preached last year at this time, "God...raised up in the Church a great multitude of saints... not only the saints and blesseds we honor during the liturgical year, but also the anonymous saints known only to him." "In the words of the collect for November 1," says Rev. James Moroney, Executive Director, USCCB Secretariat for the Liturgy, "may we 'rejoice in the holy men and women of every time and place, that their prayers may bring us God's forgiveness and love.' "

While across the country we honor the heroes of past wars on November 11, Veterans Day it is also a time to pray for our service men and women who are risking their lives in Afganistan. As we honor those who serve our country in the military, we also reflect on the nature of war itself as we confront the new world scene, and to understand implications of our actions in the context of Church teaching and what is known as "just war" theory. "This is a time unique in our nation's history," said Gerard Powers, Director, USCCB Office of International Justice and Peace. "The Church's teaching can give moral structure to our national and personal responses to the tragic events of September 11." Examples of these guidelines are a joint statement of Muslim leaders and Catholic bishops issued in September, the Church's "Just War" teaching, and a letter from the president of the bishops conference to President Bush. These documents are available on the USCCB website (http:// www.nccbuscc.org).

"Although much data about college students today indicates a disinterest in organized religion," said Michael Galligan-Stierle, Assistant Secretary of Catholic Higher Education and Campus Ministry, USCCB, "given the opportunity, training, and resources, young adults can make a significant difference in our world today." The stories of students from seven exemplary campus ministry programs show that the key to their involvement is thoughtful programs carried out by competent, engaging campus ministers. On November 20, 2001 in Washington DC during the annual bishop's conference, a coalition of three national Catholic associations of campus ministry will award Excellence in Campus Ministry Awards to seven programs of students and campus ministers from New York to Arizona.

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