“A Communion of Saints, a People of Hope”

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we step into the sacred month of November, our hearts are drawn to eternity. The Church, in her wisdom and tradition, invites us to reflect on our destiny in Christ, to remember those who have gone before us, and to prepare ourselves with renewed faith for the Lord's coming.

This is a month marked by memory, mystery, and missionthree dimensions that sustain our journey as the pilgrim Church.

The Solemnity of All Saints - A History of Hidden Holiness (1 November)

The Feast of All Saints originated in the early centuries of Christianity as a way of honouring the martyrs-those who gave their lives for Christ in times of persecution. By the 4th century, local churches began to commemorate these witnesses in communal celebrations. The current date, 1 November, was established by Pope Gregory III in the 8th century, when he consecrated a chapel in St. Peter's Basilica in honour of all the saints. Pope Gregory IV extended it to the
universal Church in the 9th century.

This solemnity reminds us that holiness is not reserved for a few, but is the universal call of every baptized person. It embraces both canonized saints and the countless unnamed holy men and women who lived humble lives of faith, love, and sacrifice-many of them our own ancestors, parents, teachers, and elders in faith.

On this feast, let us not only admire the saints but be inspired by them. May our parishes celebrate this day with children dressed as saints, creative catechesis, and community prayers that help our faithful understand that to be holy is to live with love, humility, and fidelity in our everyday lives.

All Souls' Day -ATradition of PrayerfulRemembrance (2 November)

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed-popularly known as All Souls' Day-has its roots in 10th-centurymonastic communities. It was Abbot Odilo of Cluny who, in 998 AD, instituted a day of prayer and Masses for the departed monks of his order, which quickly spread throughout the Church.

All Souls' Day teaches us a central truth of our Catholic faith: that the communion of saints extends beyond death. Our prayers, especially the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, aid the souls in purgatory as they are purified in God'smercy.

As a diocese, we are especially called to remember with gratitude : Our deceased bishops, priests, religious and catechists, who served us with devotion; Our loved ones, who nurtured us in the faith;And the forgotten dead, for whom no one may pray.

I strongly encourage every parish to Celebrate special Requiem Masses throughout the octave; bless cemeteries and encourage visits with family prayer; organize novena prayers for the departed; and support elderly and grieving parishioners with pastoral care.

The Season ofAdvent Living inHoly Expectation

Towards the end of November, we enter Advent, the season that opens the liturgical year and prepares us to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The word Adventus in Latin means “coming”-and it refers not only to Christ's historical coming at Bethlehem, but also His coming today in our hearts and His final return in glory.

The observance ofAdvent goes back to at least the 5th century, when the Church in Gaul and Spain kept a period of fasting and prayer in preparation for Christmas. Over time, it developed into a season marked by hopeful waiting, interior conversion and joyful anticipation.

Let this Advent not be overtaken by commercial distractions, but be rooted in: Daily prayer and Scripture reading; Advent wreaths and community celebrations; Confession and Reconciliation; Charity to the poor, lonely, and abandoned.

Let our families become domestic churches, preparing not only our homes, but our hearts for the one who is to come.

Living the Communion of Saints

Dear Brothers and Sisters, the three celebrations-All Saints,All Souls, and Advent-remind us of our place in the great story of salvation. We are not alone. We are part of a Church that spans heaven, earth, and purgatory-a communi on sustained by prayer, sacrifice, and love. Let us live November not in fear of death, but in faith in resurrection.

Let us carry forward the memory of the saints and the legacy of our departed. Let us prepare the way of the Lord with faith, fasting, and joyful generosity.

May God bless you all!

Withmercy and hope,

+Ambrose Pitchaimuthu
Bishop of Vellore