All Souls at Arlington

Arlington National Cemetery /
Photo Credit: Sylvia Dorham

From Catholic Womanhood...

You’ve seen pictures of Arlington National Cemetery.

Acres of identical white stones, each a life snuffed out.

Every year on All Souls’ Day, I bundle a baseball team-worth of children into the van and take advantage of our proximity to the National Cemetery.

We meet many tourists.

We observe the players in the business of funerals.

We read the names on the stones.  Winnie.  Lucretta.  John.  Elmer.

We pass section 61, empty, and think about those who will soon fill it.

There are funerals in progress.

Gun salutes.

Uniforms.

Flags.

Pageantry.

Service personnel whose sole purpose in the military is to provide ceremony for the departed who have earned the right to have their mortal remains interred in Robert E. Lee’s backyard.

Everything is orchestrated, even the horses who pull the caisson, and the group of Harley- riders who roll, two by two behind the hearse of their departed companion.

Everyone has their job.

And so do we.

We have come to pray.

We recite the Rosary.

We wander into the far corners of the cemetery where tourists and mourners are sparse.

Two women are on their knees in the thick fescue, huddled in the shade of a headstone. 

We encounter no other intercessors.

We use the words Christ gave to St. Gertrude to release thousands from purgatory.

And still we are overwhelmed.

Arlington is a stark visual reminder of our race toward death.

Birthday Girls

Can you guess what all three of these young ladies share besides working at All Saints & Saint Francis Xavier?

They all share the same birthday November 5th!

Lisa, the one with the lovely tiara will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of her 20th birthday.

The other two, Markee and Nancy, didn't mind sharing what birthday this was for Lisa.

They were a little less forthcoming with their own.

The next time that you see the Birthday Girls, let them know how much we appreciate all that they do for us here at All Saints & Saint Francis Xavier.

An Irish Blessing for our Birthday Girls!

"May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light.

May good luck pursue you each morning and night."
"With the first light of sun, bless you.

When the day is done, bless you.
In your smile and in your tears, bless you.
Through each day of all your years, bless you."
"May soft, gentle breezes brush o'er your face,
for each loving touch is God's warm embrace.
May you have enough for all that you need,
and never be hurt by another's greed.
The Lord keep you safe from terrible things,

and at the end of this life, lift you up in His wings."
"May you have: A world of wishes at your command,

God and his angels close at hand,

Friends and family their love impart,

And Irish blessings in your heart."
"May you always walk in sunshine.

May you never want for more.

May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!

All Saints Feast Day Celebration

Today is All Saints feast day. Since the feast day falls on a Monday this year it is not a holy day of obligation. However, to celebrate the 180th anniversary of our parish, Father Scott will be with us this evening at 6:30 PM to celebrate Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. A potluck dessert party will follow Mass in the parish hall. 



Here's a short history of All Saints Church from the "Faith and Missions Parish Histories" book that commemorated the 200th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Louisville:


All Saints the only Catholic church in Spencer County, was built in Taylorsville in 1830 under leadership of Father James Elliott, it's first pastor. It's predecessor, Saint Benedict, had been built in 1815, five miles away in Little Mount by Father Charles Nerinckx. The cemetery in Little Mount is still maintained by the parish. Located on a hillside, All Saints has stood above many floods  in Taylorsville, and the parish has witnessed the burning of the nearby courthouse, keeping a Civil War musket ball embedded in it's bell tower as a souvenir.


Despite it's small size as a minority community in a Baptist county, All Saints has nurtured at least six vocations to the priesthood, including Father Bill Bowling, pastor of Annunciation Church in Shelbyville. There has also been numerous vocations to various orders of women religious. The parish has a long history of ecumenical activities. Since 1986, it has had a covenant relationship with Taylorsville United Methodist Church and the First Christian Church of Taylorsville (Disciples of Christ). Among the many interfaith activities, the three churches have a joint Vacation Bible School each year, joint Advent and Lent services, and during the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity the churches participate in a Pulpit Exchange where minister's preach at each other's Sunday services.

Throughout it's history, All Saints has alternated between having a resident pastor and being served by priests traveling from Fairfield, Shelbyville, Mount Washington and as far away as Samuels in Nelson County. The relationship with Saint Michael Church in Fairfield has been particularly important since parishioners attended the school that was in Fairfield  for many years. All Saints has developed new ties with Saint Francis Xavier sharing a pastor since 2005.


From it's original ten families, All Saints has grown to serve more than 500 parishioners, but it has grown gradually enough to maintain a rural atmosphere where most people know one another. The parish offers comprehensive faith formation for all ages and a service oriented youth ministry while embracing the challenges of its third century.


  

Stewardship Opportunites

Outside Clean-up: You may have noticed the weeds and vines taking over the shrubs and landscaping, and a suggestion has been made for a parish clean-up day focusing on the outside. If you would like to volunteer to coordinate this effort, please call Nancy in the parish office on Tuesday or Thursday.

Community Baby Shower: Area churches have been asked to help with a September 17 “baby shower” to educate and assist women who are expecting a baby or who have a child under one year of age. The Spencer County Schools’ Family Resource Center and other social agencies are sponsoring this event, and want the churches to donate baby supplies If you would be willing to organize All Saints’ part in this effort, please call Diane Black in the parish office.