Before the costumes and candy, Halloween was a night of holiness — a vigil of light before the Feast of All Saints. This year let’s look beyond the shadows and reclaim its sacred meaning. Each year, as October 31st approaches, our streets fill with costumes, candy, and carved pumpkins. For many, Halloween is a night of fun and fright — a time for spooky decorations and sweet treats. Yet few realize that this day has holy and ancient Christian roots. Behind the masks and marketing lies a story that calls us to rediscover the real meaning of Halloween and to celebrate it in a way that reflects its true spirit.

The Meaning of the Word: The name Halloween is actually a shortened form of “All Hallows’ Eve.” “Hallow” means holy or saint — as we say in the Lord’s Prayer, “Hallowed be Thy name.” “E’en” is an old term for evening. Put together, Halloween literally means “the evening of all the holy ones.” It is the vigil before one of the Church’s greatest feasts: All Saints’ Day on November 1st — the day we honor all the saints in heaven, both known and unknown.

The Origin of the Feast: From the early centuries of Christianity, believers have honored the memory of the martyrs and holy men and women who gave their lives for Christ. As their numbers grew, the Church set aside a single day to celebrate all who have reached heaven — the great family of the faithful who now live in God’s presence. By the eighth century, Pope Gregory III established November 1st as All Saints’ Day, and the evening before became known as All Hallows’ Eve. It was a time of prayer, reflection, and preparation — a vigil of hope before the great feast of light and glory.

How the Meaning Was Lost: Over time, as Christian Europe met different local customs and seasonal harvest traditions, some of the symbols of autumn and death became mixed with the Church’s holy vigil. In more recent times, especially in popular culture, Halloween has drifted far from its sacred roots. Instead of a night preparing to honor the saints, it often celebrates fear, darkness, and even things that mock the sacred. What began as a vigil of holiness has become for many a festival of horror — and, sadly, a highly commercialized one. The focus has shifted from honoring heaven’s glory to glorifying the eerie and grotesque.

A Call to Reclaim the Light: Yet this need not be the case. As Catholics, we are invited to reclaim Halloween and return to its true purpose — a time of joy, remembrance, and faith. Halloween, rightly understood, points us toward the victory of light over darkness, of life over death, of Christ over evil. We can restore the beauty of this feast by celebrating it in meaningful ways: Attend Mass or a vigil service for All Saints’ Day. Learn about and share stories of the saints, especially lesser-known ones. Host an All-Saints’ celebration where children can dress as their favorite saints or biblical figures. Pray for loved ones who have died, preparing also for All Souls’ Day on November 2nd. Light candles as symbols of Christ, the Light of the World, shining in the darkness. These practices remind us that Halloween is not about fear, but about faith — not about death’s power, but about the promise of eternal life.

Becoming Saints Ourselves: The true message of Halloween is one of hope. It calls us to remember that we are all made for heaven, and that sainthood is not reserved for a few — it is our universal call. As we honor the saints who have gone before us, we renew our own desire to follow their example of courage, charity, and holiness. So, this year, as pumpkins glow on porches and children laugh in the streets, let us also allow the light of faith to shine in our hearts. Let us celebrate All Hallows’ Eve as it was meant to be — a joyful vigil before the Feast of All Saints, a night when we look not into the shadows, but toward the radiant glory of God’s kingdom.

Fr. Varghese Puthussery SAC,
St. Peter Church & Holy Family Church

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

This being the month of the Holy Rosary, during our time of Eucharistic Adoration, I’d like to speak to you about one of the most powerful and beloved devotions in the life of the Church: the Rosary—and why we are called to pray it regularly.

1. A Pathway to an Intimate Relationship with Jesus
The Rosary is much more than a string of beads or a repetition of prayers. At its heart, the Rosary is a meditation on the life of Christ—seen through the eyes of His mother, Mary. Each mystery we contemplate—the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous—is a doorway into Jesus’ life, His love, and His saving mission. As we pray, we don’t just recite words—we enter into sacred moments: His Incarnation, His Passion, His Resurrection. The Rosary becomes a conversation with Jesus and Mary, where we offer our hearts and listen in silence.

2. A Source of Peace in a Restless World
In the chaos and noise of modern life, we need spiritual silence. The Rosary, with its gentle rhythm and repetition, creates a sacred space for peace. It calms the mind, quiets anxiety, and re-centers our soul in God’s presence. St. John Paul II called the Rosary “a prayer of great significance, destined to bring forth a harvest of holiness.” He reminded us that it helps us become “conformed ever more closely to Christ until we attain true holiness.”

3. A School of Faith with Mary as Our Teacher
When we pray the Rosary, we are not praying to Mary, but with her. She leads us to Jesus. Her life—her “yes” to God, her courage beneath the Cross, her joy at the Resurrection—teaches us how to live with faith, trust, and love. As Pope Benedict XVI said, “The Rosary, when it is prayed in an authentic way, brings peace and reconciliation. It contains the healing power of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, invoked with faith and love at the center of each Hail Mary.”

4. A Powerful Weapon in Spiritual Warfare
The saints have always called the Rosary a spiritual weapon—a shield against temptation, discouragement, and sin.
 St. Dominic in the 13th century is traditionally credited with receiving the rosary from the Blessed Virgin Mary as a weapon to combat heresy and bring people back to Christ. He preached it passionately, understanding the power of the rosary.
 Centuries later, St. Louis de Montfort said, “The Rosary is a priceless treasure inspired by God.”
 Padre Pio, a mystic and stigmatist. called Rosary “his weapon,” and would pray it more than 30 times a day.
 St. Mother Teresa prayed it constantly amidst the suffering she witnessed, calling it her daily lifeline.
In our own struggles—be it doubt, temptation, suffering, or fear—the Rosary becomes a battle cry of faith, placing us under Mary’s protection and leading us back to Christ’s victory.

5. A Channel of Grace, Healing, and Intercession
Mary, as our heavenly Mother, intercedes for us. When we pray the Rosary, we bring her our needs—personal, communal, and global—and ask her to present them to her Son. We see this clearly in the Marian apparitions:
 In Fatima (1917), Mary revealed herself as “Our Lady of the Rosary” and asked us to pray it daily for peace and the conversion of sinners.
 At Lourdes (1858), she held a Rosary and prayed it with Bernadette.
 In Akita (1973), she urged Sr. Agnes, “Pray very much the prayers of the Rosary.”
Over and over again, Our Lady has one consistent message: “Pray the Rosary.” It is her invitation—and her gift.

6. A Prayer for Our Time—and All Times
The Rosary isn’t just for saints and mystics. It’s for families, students, priests, the elderly, the struggling, the searching—for everyone. Pope Francis often urges us to pray the Rosary as a way to bring Christ into our daily lives. During the pandemic, he even led the whole Church in Rosary gatherings for healing and protection.
And I’ve experienced this personally. I was blessed to grow up in a family where we prayed the Rosary every day. That simple act of faith shaped my heart, helped me discern my vocation, and continues to sustain me as a missionary priest.
Dear sisters and brothers, Rosary is not just prayer—it’s formation. It’s protection. It’s healing. It is a treasure:
 It brings us closer to Jesus through Mary.
 It deepens our faith and trust in God.
 It offers peace, protection, and hope.
 It opens our hearts to grace and intercession.
 And it unites us with the Church across the world and throughout time.

So, whether you’re just beginning your journey or have prayed the Rosary for years, I invite you: Pick up the beads. Pray slowly. Meditate deeply. Let Mary lead you to her Son. As you do, may the Rosary become for you what it has been for the saints: a path to holiness, a source of strength, and a lifeline to the heart of Jesus. Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us. Amen.

Fr. Varghese Puthussery SAC

Dear Parish Family,

October is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Rosary, a powerful prayer that draws us closer to Jesus through the heart of His Mother. This year, we invite every family in our parish to take part in a 31-Day Rosary Challenge, praying the Rosary each day throughout the month of October.

Whether you pray the entire Rosary or simply one decade a day, your participation will help build a stronger culture of prayer in our homes and parish community.

Each week, we will focus on one set of Mysteries:

Ø Week 1 (Oct 1–7): Joyful Mysteries

Ø Week 2 (Oct 8–14): Luminous Mysteries

Ø Week 3 (Oct 15–21): Sorrowful Mysteries

Ø Week 4 (Oct 22–28): Glorious Mysteries

Ø Final Days (Oct 29–31): Open reflection or repeat favorite Mysteries

We’ve also included a simple daily chart with a short reflection to help guide your family prayer time. Let us ask Our Lady to intercede for our families and bring us closer to her Son!

Here are some of the other ways we’ll be nurturing a Rosary-centered parish life this month:

Ø Rosary before every Mass – arriving early becomes an opportunity to pray and prepare our hearts.

Ø 12-Hour Eucharistic Adoration with Chain Rosary – a day of deep prayer and intercession.

Ø Workshop and Potluck: “Why Pray the Rosary?”—a space to learn, share, and grow.

Ø Walking Rosary on the parish campus – a way to combine prayer, movement, and community.

My dear friends, Mary’s Rosary is not just a devotion—it’s a school of love, patience, and peace. As we walk through the Joyful Mysteries this week, may we allow them to shape our families, our hearts, and our parish.

In Christ,

Fr. Varghese Puthussery SAC

“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence.” (1 Peter 3:15)

Dear Catechists, Faith Formation Leaders, and Volunteers,
On this special occasion of National Catechetical Sunday, I wish to express my deep gratitude and heartfelt appreciation for each one of you who so generously gives your time, your energy, and your love to the mission of passing on the faith.
This year’s theme, reflected in 1 Peter 3:15, is both a commission and a reminder: that we are called not only to know Christ, but to share Him—with confidence, clarity, and compassion. You are the ones who help make this possible in our parish. Whether you serve as a teacher/ volunteer at PSR, youth ministry, OCIA team member, Bible Study, Adult Faith Formation group, Sacramental prep volunteer, or Faith Formation Coordinator—you are living witnesses of the Gospel.
In an age where so many search for truth, meaning, and hope, your presence and ministry are more important than ever. You are planting seeds of faith in hearts young and old, and your dedication helps others encounter the living Christ.
As Pope Francis reminds us: “Being a catechist is not a title; it is an attitude. It is a way of being.”
Indeed, your ministry is not just about teaching content—it is about sharing your encounter with Jesus, walking with others on their journey, and forming disciples who will carry the light of faith into the world.
Please know that your parish stands with you, supports you, and prays for you. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide you, strengthen you, and bless the work of your hands.
With profound gratitude and every blessing,

Fr. Varghese Puthussery SAC
St. Peter, Petersburg & Holy Family, Athens.