The Bishop Ahr High School community gathered on the November 1 to celebrate the Feast of All Saints and to honor the “saints among us.”
Our Christian faith tells us that the relationships we forge in our lives do not unravel with death but that they live on for eternity. Therefore, as the BGA community gathered for this liturgy, all of their loved ones who have gone to the Lord and all the saints in heaven joined in the celebration. All of their prayers were joined with the Communion of Saints asking them to intercede to God for us.
During this past year, Pope Francis wrote an Apostolic Exhortation calling all people to a life of holiness. In it, he says that holiness is not some way of living that is reserved only for the Saints we remember at the liturgy on November 1. Rather, he asserts that holiness is something alive and active in our world, even today. He writes, "I like to contemplate the holiness present in the patience of God's people – such as in those parents who raise their children in immense love, in those men and women who work hard to support their families… very often it is a holiness found in our next-door neighbors, those who, living in our midst, reflect God’s presence."
Joining the BGA community at this liturgy were two distinct groups of people who embody living a holy life where they are: the Edison Township Police Department and our own BGA maintenance team.
BGA wanted to honor them and thank our first responders who consistently put others before themselves, working to bring about good in our communities. They keep us safe and protect us every day. The Edison Police in attendance today included Deputy Chief Ron Mieczkowski, Ken Schreck ’80, Michael Piperato ’09, Matthew Mieczkowski ’06, Matthew Haley ‘09, Michael Haley ’2009 and Elizabeth Fireman Anthony Pagano ‘10. And the BGA Maintenance team: Mr. John Karabin, Mr. Tom Karabin, Mr. George Dietz, Mr. Joseph Albanese, and Mr. Javier Munoz; who tirelessly work to ensure that the place where we learn, work, play, and pray is cleaned and ready for every event, activity, and learning experience. This maintenance team is always available to help each one of us wherever and whenever they are needed.
On November 1, the BGA family gathered to remember those men and women who have gone to the Lord, all the saints who have been canonized and raised to sainthood, and most especially we honored and remembered the “saints next door.”