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.

St. Isidore, you lived a humble life working the land.
You attended Holy Mass each morning which jeopardized the employment
that allowed your family to eat.
The Lord repaid your love by sending his angels to plow the fields
while you were at Church.
Dear Isidore, ask Our Lord Jesus to place deep faith in our hearts
and water it each day with your prayers that we may progress in holiness as you did.
Pray that as our heart grows in love and humility we may be a living sign of Jesus
to those around us.
As a farmer who used his hands to bring forth nourishing food please ask Jesus to bless us with a bountiful harvest.
Pray that our hands and bodies will remain strong that we may farm the land God has given us.
Ask Jesus to care for our gardens as he tends our hearts.
Pray that weeds will be kept far from our fields and likewise give us an aversion to sin.
Humbly we ask that you carry the petitions we hold in our heart to our most loving and generous Lord. – Amen

Fall is a time to rejoice in the changing in the leaves, Friday night lights, and bonfire weather. Another of God’s seasonal changes is the farmer’s harvest. He blessed this land with wonderful men and woman who are up well before most of us, doing work in the wee hours of the morning until late into the day that most of us could not fathom. Although in a hurry and faced with a large piece of farm equipment traversing the country roads to the next field can be frustrating, let us remember that this is a necessary job and that farmer has a family to get home to, homework to help with and miles of fields to plan for before they go to bed. Let’s give some space and grace to ourselves and our farmers’ equipment in those moments. Thank you, to our parish farmers, for all you do!

Learn more about Saint Isidore & Maria:
Isidore and Maria, Patron Saints of Farmers
Learn more about Illinois’ Ag:
Illinois Department of Agriculture
County & Illinois Harvest Activities 2025:
Petersburg Harvest Fest September 20th
St. Peter Parish Picinic & Chilli Cookoff September 28th – See calendar for more information.
Indian Creek Farmstead Petersburg, IL https://www.indiancreekfarmstead.com/
Jefferies Orchard (just south of Athens on 29) Springfield, IL https://www.jefferies-orchard.com/
Spoon River Drive (10/4-5 & 10/11-12) https://spoonriverdrive.org/
Must-Do Fall Activities in Illinois | https://www.enjoyillinois.com/plan-your-trip/seasonal-adventures/fall-in-illinois/amazing-fall-activities-illinois/

Today, the Church celebrates one of the most beautiful feasts in the liturgical calendar — the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven, body and soul. This solemnity is not just a celebration of Mary, but a glorious reminder of what God has in store for each of us who walk in faith, hope, and love.

1. What Do We Celebrate Today?

The Assumption is the belief — declared as dogma in 1950 by Pope Pius XII — that at the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken up into Heaven, body and soul. Unlike other saints who await the resurrection of the body at the end of time, Mary has already been glorified in her whole person. She shares already in the full fruits of Christ’s résurrection.

Why? Because she was the Mother of God, the one who bore the Savior in her womb. But more importantly, because she remained faithful — humble, obedient, and full of grace — from beginning to end. Her Assumption is not only a reward — it’s a sign: A sign of what God desires to do for all who love Him.

2. Mary as the First Disciple and Our Model

Mary’s life was not easy. From her “Yes” at the Annunciation, to the poverty of Bethlehem, to fleeing as a refugee to Egypt, to standing beneath the Cross — she walked a path of deep suffering and trust.

Yet through it all, she remained faithful. She did not seek power or praise. She kept pondering everything in her heart. She surrendered her life completely to God’s will. That is why she is called “blessed among women” — not just because she bore Christ, but because she heard the Word of God and kept it (Luke 11:28).

Mary shows us what it means to be truly human — fully open to God, fully trusting, fully loving. She is not distant or untouchable. She is our mother, our sister in faith, and our model in discipleship.

3. What Does Her Assumption Mean for Us?

In Mary, we see our destiny. Her Assumption is the promise that death is not the end. That our bodies matter. That one day, we too — if we remain faithful — will be raised in glory, body and soul.

In a world obsessed with success, appearance, and temporary pleasure, Mary reminds us that our true home is not here, and that holiness is the only path that leads to glory.

Her Assumption challenges us to live as people who believe in eternity:

• To treat our bodies with dignity.

• To seek purity and integrity.

• To live in hope, even in suffering.

• To imitate her faith and humility.

4. Mary Walks With Us

The Assumption also reminds us that Mary is close to us. She is not only in Heaven — she is with us as a mother who intercedes, comforts, and guides. In every trial, every loss, every moment of confusion or despair, we can turn to her and say, “Mother, help me to trust like you did. Help me to say ‘yes ’to God.”

She always leads us to Jesus.

Dear friends, the Feast of the Assumption is a feast of hope, joy, and promise. Mary has gone before us. She shows us the way. She prays for us. And she reminds us that what God did for her, He desires to do for each of us. So today, let us renew our devotion to Mary. Let us ask her to walk with us on our journey. And let us pray for the grace to live, like her, a life of humility, purity, faith, and surrender. So that one day, we too may be with her — and with all the saints — in the glory of Heaven.

Holy Mary, assumed into Heaven, pray for us!

Amen.

Fr. Varghese SAC

Hello and Welcome! Our PSR (Parish School Religion), aka Sunday School, meets most Sundays from 9:15 AM-10:15 AM at St. Peter Parish Center in Petersburg, IL. We serve Pre K (Ages 3-5) & K, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade (Reconciliation Sacrament), 3rd Grade (Confirmation and First Communion Sacraments), and 4-6th Grade in this program. Grades 7th -12th grades are served through a youth group that will meet the 2nd & 4th Sundays of each month.

In PSR our teachers will go over many topics including: Who God the father; son and holy spirit is, Living as God teaches us to, Church etiquette, Bible stories, Ways to put our faith in action, Prayers, 7 Sacraments and Sacrament Preparation. Our youth group will discuss scripture, participant topics, serve our community, have offsite fun, pilgrimages and more.

Please join us for our Kickoff Events:
Saturday September 6th after 4:30 PM Mass at St. Peter – PSR Meet the Teacher Night at St. Peter Parish Center.
Sunday August 24th – Youth Group kickoff party at St. Peter Parish Center.

Use this link to register for PSR & Youth Group: https://dio.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/195/responses/new
If you are interested in volunteering, registering your child, or have any questions please reach out to Emily Wilson; Stphf-dre@parish.dio.org or office 217-632-7118.

Looking to fill a gap in your 1st-6th graders’ time or couple evening hours for your 7th-12th graders July 6th-11th? Register today for Totus Tuus with the attached flyer or below link. It’s not your average summer bible camp and could spark a lifetime of salvation.

https://dio.org/totus-tuus-camper-registration/

Totus Tuus is a weeklong Catholic youth program dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith through evangelization, catechesis, Christian witness, and eucharistic worship. The program inspires in young people a true longing for holiness, a deep desire for daily conversion, and an openness to their vocation.

Grades 1st-6th meet 9:00AM-2:30PM Monday-Friday. Bring a sack lunch, a snack is provided.
Grades 7th-12th meet 6:30PM-8:15PM Sunday-Thursday. Snack provided.

Who is teaching your kids?
A team of four 18–24-year-old paid missionaries travel throughout the diocese and complete this weeklong program. This group is dedicating their summer in service of the church and having fun while they do it. They have completed background checks and safe environment training. They will be staying with host families for lodging and dining with additional host families each night they are here.
What will your kids be doing?
Having fun with their friends and making news ones while learning about the 7 Catholic sacraments, eucharistic adoration, the joyful mysteries of the rosary, etc. There are messy games and crazy skits, in addition to prayer, learning the sacraments, and going to Mass. Attached is a breakdown of day program and evening program.
What is the cost?
$35/family of 1-2 children, or $65/family of 3+ children. Scan the QR code on the attached flyer, go to St Peter website and use Push Pay to pay online, or bring check/cash to parish office.

Totus Tuus Registration Flyer

Totus Tuus 2025 Evening.Day Breakdown

Congratulations to our 2025 High School graduates! As you are off on your next leg of life do not forget your Catholic identity. You have been responsible for your faith journey since you were confirmed and now as a high school graduate, and legal adult, you are even more responsible for keeping yourself on track.

A few practical ways to practice your faith and put it in action:

Use your calendar. Add calendar events in your phone for church mass times, adoration, bible study, etc. It is no less a priority than class, lunch, or parties.
Find a Catholic group or St John Catholic Newman Center at your school. These locations are there to meet you where you are spiritually and support you. Life is easier when you surround yourself with people that pray with you.
Be Active in your Faith. Don’t just sit around and wait for Jesus, meet him. Go to adoration, join a community service group (breadline, read at senior living centers, help out at Sunday school, etc.), listen to a daily Catholic podcast or subscribe to a daily devotion.
Read the Bible. It may have been thousands of years in the making, but it will surprise you when you find yourself in it. Challenge yourself to complete a gospel each quarter then tackle the rest of the Bible. There is an app for that.
Go to Church. Church is home regardless of your geographical location. Jesus is there to listen no matter the topic you want to speak or pray on.

Don’t forget to step outside your comfort zone, take a breath, be kind, and call home. Let’s Go Blue Jays!