A Message from Father Nathan
My dearest people who are all close to my heart
Lots of love, blessings, and prayers to you all.
Understanding Purgatory
+ Praying for the deceased
When someone dies, we usually have flowers or candles to remember their passing. We do it to honor their memory, perhaps even as a way of offering a prayer for them.
TraDITION OF Praying for the dead
We all want to find a fitting way to remember those who have left us. Let us understand why we pray for the dead. There is a longstanding tradition in the Catholic Church to pray for the souls of the deceased. How did this tradition come about and why is it still important today?
The Reality of Purgatory
The custom of praying for the dead is rooted in the very nature of heaven. The Bible indicates that there can be nothing imperfect in heaven. When describing the vision of the New Jerusalem, God’s eternal kingdom, revelation 21:27 states,
“nothing unclean will enter it.”
Unfortunately, many people who have died have not lived as perfect humans, and do not die in the state of perfection. They are not yet prepared to enter heaven and behold God’s face. At the same time, they have not chosen to separate themselves from God. They may have expressed regret for their sins and been forgiven, but their love of God at the time of their death may not have been as profound and perfect as it should have been.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but are still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. (CC 1030).
God’s Mercy Endures after Death
The souls of these individuals have not yet been completely purified of their sins. They must undergo purification after death, a fact which demonstrates that God’s mercy does not stop after that moment of death.
Instead, divine mercy continues even after the moment to prepare a soul to receive God’s loving embrace in heaven. Hence, let us pray for the dead.
May our prayers rise up to them. Let them in turn be our intercessors.
God bless you all.
With lots of love and blessings,
Ever wanting to be faithful to your service,
— Fr. Sahayanathan Nathan
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Past Messages from Father Nathan
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | September 14, 2025
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – September 14th. This feast is celebrated every year on September 14th and recalls three historical events: The finding of the True Cross by Saint Helena, the mother of the emperor Constantine, The dedication of churches built by Constantine on the site of the Holy Sepulcher and Mount Calvary, The restoration of the True Cross to Jerusalem by the emperor Heraclius II.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | August 31, 2025
Nativity of our Blessed Mother – September 8th. A traditional Indian Celebration will be held on September 6th (Saturday) at 6:00 p.m. Mass will be celebrated at St. Gabriel following the traditional way of honoring our Blessed Mother, taking her on a decorated chariot…
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | August 24, 2025
The feasts of St. Monica and her son, St. Augustine. Their life as mother and son sets an example for all of us to follow in our family lives…
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | August 17, 2025
Thank You for My Birthday Celebration. Last week, before my birthday, my little niece, with all the innocence and concern of a child, went to her mother and said, “I feel bad for Uncle Father Nathan. Uncle is all alone. There is no one to celebrate his birthday with him.” She said it because I am far away from my family home, and in her
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | August 10, 2025
Solemnity of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother – a Holy Day of Obligation
Thursday 14th vigil Mass and, on the 15th, we will have mass at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.
From The Desk Of Father Nathan | August 03, 2025
Our Church is more than a building – it is our extended home. Just as we celebrate the joys and milestones of life within our family homes, I warmly invite you to make the Church the heart of your celebrations too.