Catholic calendar 1–7 November 2026

Sunday, 1 November 2026 — Solemnity of All Saints — the promise of the Beatitudes

Liturgical designation: Solemnity of All Saints (white), proper solemnity readings, Year A. It takes precedence over the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Readings: Revelation 7:2–4, 9–14; Psalm 24; 1 John 3:1–3; Matthew 5:1–12a.
Meaning of the day: John’s vision in Revelation shows a great multitude from every nation, people and language standing before God and the Lamb. Their unity is greater than the divisions of the world. The First Letter of John declares that we are already God’s children, though the fullness of our destiny has not yet appeared. In the Gospel, Jesus announces the Beatitudes: blessed are the poor in spirit, the meek, those who show mercy, the pure of heart, peacemakers and those persecuted for righteousness. Holiness is not reserved for a few famous names from the past. It grows through grace in family life, honest work, forgiveness and patient service. All Saints is primarily a celebration of hope and communion with God, not a day devoted to death. The parish reflection on All Saints (Polish) explores this vision. Children are invited to the 10:45 am Mass in Peterborough dressed as saints or blesseds; a procession with relics and a parish-hall celebration will follow. Cemetery prayers for the departed have also been announced in Wisbech for this date.
Scripture: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).
Prayer: God, source of all holiness, help me live the Beatitudes in ordinary life and keep my eyes fixed on the hope of heaven.
Practice: Choose one Beatitude and express it through a concrete act of mercy, peacemaking or forgiveness.
Remembrance: The communion of all saints, known and unknown; solemnity celebrated on Sunday.
Parish reading: Read All Saints — parish feature (Polish) and parish announcements (English).

Monday, 2 November 2026 — The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed — All Souls

Liturgical designation: Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (violet; black is also permitted). Proper Mass formularies take the place of the Ordinary Time weekday.
Readings: One permitted set: Wisdom 3:1–9; Psalm 23; Romans 5:5–11 (or Romans 6:3–9); John 6:37–40. Other readings for Masses for the dead are also permitted.
Meaning of the day: After celebrating the saints in heaven, the Church prays for those who have died and who are being purified in God’s mercy. The Book of Wisdom teaches that the souls of the righteous are in God’s hands, even when death seems to the world like a final defeat. Paul reminds us that hope does not disappoint because God’s love has been poured into our hearts. In the Gospel, Jesus promises not to cast away those who come to him and speaks of raising them up on the last day. To pray for the dead is not simply to recall the past. It is an act of love grounded in faith in eternal life. Mass intentions, November remembrance prayers known as Wypominki, visits to graves and prayer for those without relatives are ways of living this belief. From 1 to 8 November, a plenary indulgence for souls in purgatory may be obtained under the Church’s usual conditions when visiting a cemetery and praying for the dead. The parish feature Five ways to help the souls in purgatory (Polish) explains these devotions.
Scripture: “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37).
Prayer: Lord of life and death, welcome our loved ones and those who are forgotten into the light and peace of your presence.
Practice: Write down the names of loved ones for November remembrance prayers, or offer a Mass and prayer for the departed.
Remembrance: All the Faithful Departed; prayer for the dead and Christian hope in the resurrection.
Parish reading: Parish article on All Souls (Polish) · Five ways to pray for the dead (Polish).

Tuesday, 3 November 2026 — St Martin de Porres — humility and the invitation to the banquet

Liturgical designation: Tuesday of Week 31 in Ordinary Time (green), or the optional memorial of St Martin de Porres, Religious (white). St Winefride, Virgin, is also an optional memorial in England and Wales. Psalter Week III.
Readings: Philippians 2:5–11; Psalm 22; Luke 14:15–24.
Meaning of the day: The hymn in Philippians calls believers to adopt the mind of Christ, who emptied himself and became obedient even to death on a cross. In the Gospel a host prepares a banquet, but the invited guests make excuses because of their other commitments. The invitation then reaches the poor, the disabled and those left at the edges of society. Jesus reveals both God’s generosity and the danger of priorities that leave no room for grace. St Martin de Porres was a Dominican lay brother in Lima who cared for the sick and the poor without social distinction. His life shows what the Gospel banquet looks like in practice: the neglected are welcomed, the sick are tended and human dignity matters more than rank. At the beginning of November we might ask whether remembering the dead is accompanied by practical kindness towards the elderly and lonely who still live among us. The parish saints calendar (Polish) also recalls St Martin de Porres.
Scripture: “Come, for everything is now ready” (Luke 14:17).
Prayer: Humble Jesus, help me respond to your invitation and recognise the dignity of people whom the world easily overlooks.
Practice: Give practical help to someone who is sick, elderly or alone, without looking for recognition.
Remembrance: St Martin de Porres, Religious; St Winefride also appears in the local liturgical calendar.
Parish reading: See the parish events and saints calendar (Polish).

Wednesday, 4 November 2026 — St Charles Borromeo — responsibility and renewal

Liturgical designation: Obligatory memorial of St Charles Borromeo, Bishop (white); Week 31 in Ordinary Time, Psalter Week III.
Readings: Philippians 2:12–18; Psalm 27; Luke 14:25–33.
Meaning of the day: Paul urges the Philippians to do all things without grumbling or arguing so that they may shine like stars in the world. Faith becomes visible in integrity and service, not simply in religious vocabulary. Jesus offers striking examples of a person counting the cost of building a tower or a king judging whether he can face an army. His point is that discipleship must not be treated as an occasional enthusiasm: God must come before comfort, ambition and possessions. St Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan, worked tirelessly for the renewal of pastoral ministry, the education of clergy and care for the sick during an epidemic. His example reminds us that reform also depends on personal conversion and practical responsibility. Families, catechists, priests and parish volunteers can all examine whether their commitments are rooted in prayer and sustained by love. The parish biography of St Charles Borromeo (Polish) explores his life in greater detail.
Scripture: “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27).
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me perseverance in my calling, and teach me to serve family, parish and neighbours faithfully.
Practice: Complete one responsibility you have been postponing, carefully and without excuses.
Remembrance: St Charles Borromeo, Bishop, reformer and patron of catechists and seminarians.
Parish reading: Read the parish account of St Charles Borromeo (Polish).

Thursday, 5 November 2026 — The lost sheep and the lost coin — Zechariah and Elizabeth in the parish calendar

Liturgical designation: Thursday of Week 31 in Ordinary Time (green); Psalter Week III. The parish calendar recalls Zechariah and Elizabeth, but this is not an obligatory memorial locally.
Readings: Philippians 3:3–8a; Psalm 105; Luke 15:1–10.
Meaning of the day: Paul explains that achievements which once seemed to define him have become secondary to the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ. In the Gospel Jesus welcomes tax collectors and sinners, prompting criticism from those who expect him to keep his distance. He responds with two parables: a shepherd searches for a single lost sheep, and a woman carefully searches for one lost coin. No person is anonymous to God. Divine mercy does not pretend that wrongdoing is harmless; it offers the hope of repentance and a return home. The parish calendar remembers Saints Zechariah and Elizabeth, whose long wait for a child became part of the story leading to the birth of John the Baptist. Their patient faith reminds us that God’s timing is not always our own. During this month of remembrance, such hope can help us accompany people coping with bereavement and avoid easy judgments about the suffering or choices of others.
Scripture: “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost” (Luke 15:6).
Prayer: Jesus, Good Shepherd, seek me when I wander and give me a generous heart when others seek their way back to you.
Practice: Reach out to someone who has drifted away from family or community; listen before offering advice.
Remembrance: Parish calendar: Saints Zechariah and Elizabeth, parents of St John the Baptist.
Parish reading: See the parish calendar (Polish) and November remembrance announcements (English).

Friday, 6 November 2026 — First Friday — wisdom, stewardship and a renewed heart

Liturgical designation: Friday of Week 31 in Ordinary Time (green), Psalter Week III. In Wales, St Illtud, Abbot, is an optional memorial. First Friday devotions do not by themselves change the liturgical rank.
Readings: Philippians 3:17–4:1; Psalm 122; Luke 16:1–8.
Meaning of the day: Paul reminds the Philippians that our true citizenship is in heaven, from where we await Christ the Saviour. This does not diminish our earthly responsibilities; rather, it puts them in perspective. The parable of the dishonest steward can be unsettling. Jesus is not approving fraud or manipulation. Instead, he draws attention to how resourcefully people act in securing their worldly interests and asks disciples to use their time and opportunities for lasting good. The First Friday of the month can provide an occasion for an examination of conscience, Confession and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The label “First Friday”, however, is not a substitute for repentance and a living relationship with God. The parish offers a guide to preparing for Confession (Polish). November prayer for the departed also continues; check the announcements (English) for current arrangements before attending.
Scripture: “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20).
Prayer: Lord, give me a wise and faithful heart, so that I use my time well and remain open to your mercy.
Practice: Make an examination of conscience, plan Confession if needed, and offer a concrete act of kindness.
Remembrance: First Friday of November; devotion to the Sacred Heart and prayer for the departed.
Parish reading: Confession guide (Polish) · parish service information (English).

Saturday, 7 November 2026 — First Saturday — St Willibrord and faithfulness in little things

Liturgical designation: Saturday of Week 31 in Ordinary Time (green), or optional memorial of St Willibrord, Bishop (white); Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary may also be celebrated. Psalter Week III.
Readings: Philippians 4:10–19; Psalm 112; Luke 16:9–15.
Meaning of the day: Paul thanks the Christians in Philippi for practical support and describes learning to live both with plenty and with little. His security is found in Christ, who strengthens him. In the Gospel Jesus teaches that faithfulness in small matters prepares us for larger responsibilities. Material resources can be used generously, yet they become dangerous when possessions take the place of God. St Willibrord, bishop and missionary among the Frisians, is remembered for spreading the Gospel in northern Europe. His ministry, together with the first Saturday of the month, offers an opportunity to pray for missionaries and reflect on Mary’s faithful response to the Lord. The parish events listing announces a First Saturday Mass at 7:00 am on 7 November and the usual evening Mass at 7:15 pm. Check current notices for any changes. The following day, 8 November, cemetery prayers at Eastfield Cemetery in Peterborough have been announced for 2:30 pm.
Scripture: “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much” (Luke 16:10).
Prayer: God, make me faithful in small things, free from greed and trusting in your care.
Practice: Share time or resources with someone in need; pray for the departed and prepare for Sunday Mass.
Remembrance: St Willibrord, bishop and missionary; First Saturday, Marian prayer and remembrance of the dead.
Parish reading: Consult parish announcements (English) and the Rosary guide (Polish).

Spiritual message of the week

All Saints and All Souls are distinct celebrations. The first rejoices in those who already share the glory of heaven; the second offers prayers for the departed still awaiting the fullness of union with God. Both express belief in the resurrection and the communion of saints.

St Martin de Porres points towards care for the poor; St Charles Borromeo towards renewal and responsibility; and the Gospel parables towards mercy, wisdom and fidelity. First Friday and First Saturday offer an opportunity to turn remembrance into conversion, prayer and acts of compassion.