Our Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry, Paloma Rodriguez, and several volunteers have constructed a Day of the Dead altar in the foyer of the second floor of the PLC.  It is wonderfully done and they did a good job of adding explanations of the meaning of the objects on the altar.  This Mexican custom has origins in pre-Columbian culture and is prevalent throughout Mexico and now in some parts of the US.  The altar will remain throughout November. All are welcome to add framed pictures of deceased loved ones. Please, put your name and phone number on the back so they can be returned. The altar remains up until the end of November.

Do not forget to turn your clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday evening.  Central Standard Time begins this Sunday morning.

Most of you have received Catholic Services Appeal materials from the diocese in the mail.  This weekend the bishop has asked us to present the appeal to you at all Masses. The CSA is the annual bishop’s appeal.  Funds raised in the CSA support seminarian formation and education, deacon formation and education, campus ministries, Catholic Charities, religious education, Catholic Schools, priest retirement and a number of other aspects of diocesan life. We encourage everyone to support the CSA.  It is part of how we continue the work of Jesus Christ here in central Texas.

Please, if you mail your contribution directly back to the Diocese, this will save time and effort for our office staff to process them. Thank you.

Taylor, Andrew, Ashes of London

This is an excellent novel for fans of historical fiction.  It is set in London in 1666, the year of the Great Fire of London and during the reign of Charles II.  His father, Charles I, had been executed in 1649 at the beginning of the Commonwealth after the British Civil War.  Well written and well researched, this novel is a very intriguing tale of figures caught up in the politics and religion of the time.  If you are unfamiliar with this time period in English history you might need to do a bit of background reading on figures such as Oliver Cromwell, Charles I and II, the Commonwealth and the restoration of the monarchy.  It is well worth your time.