Halloween is a celebratory occasion for a child after an evening of trick-or-treating – and  also for a senior who won the biggest cross country race of her high school career. That was the case for Mount Carmel 12th grader Hope Shales, who led the Cubs to the District 9-5A cross country championship at the City Park course on Oct. 31.

Queridos hermanos: avanza el mes de noviembre, que comenzó con la fiesta de todos los santos, y continuó con la memoria agradecida de nuestros fieles difuntos. En muchos lugares y comunidades cristianas a este mes otoñal le da sentido el recuerdo de aquellos que ya se fueron de este mundo, así como la oración por ellos.

JOY UNSPEAKABLE, spiritual leaders, speakers, authors Dr. Barbara A. Holmes, M.Div., JD, and Phileena Heuertz, Nov. 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Nov. 9, 9 a.m.-noon, First Grace United Methodist Church, 3401 Canal St., New Orleans. The School for Contemplative Living is hosting the event “Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Spirituality for the Active Life” as its 10th annual conference. Registration: e-mail Dr. William Thiele at william.thiele56@gmail.com. $75.

Senior Tasia Jordan of Marrero, left, has her face painted by a member of the National Art Honor Society during the Pink Game tailgate party Oct. 3. The game brings awareness to the important issue of breast cancer during the month of October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness month. AOL defeated De La Salle.

Latin music filled the dance studio when Dominican alumna Bianca San Martin (’08) led students in dance as part of the National Hispanic Heritage Month observance. It was presented by the school’s Students for Human Dignity and Diversity in Action. San Martin taught students the basic steps for salsa, merengue and cha-cha. The event was sponsored by San Martin and the New Orleans Hispanic Heritage Foundation (NOHHF). Joining in the celebration were Luz Caputto and Dominican alumna María León Vallejo (’76) of the NOHHF Board.

The Archbishop Chapelle community gathered for a Legacy Mass celebrated by Archbishop Gregory Aymond. The special Mass and reception honors alumnae who have “legacy” family members currently attending Chapelle and also inspires first-generation Chapelle students to begin their own Chapelle legacy.

If not now, when? That’s what LSU fans should be asking as next Saturday’s game at Alabama approaches. There’s no better time, to end a losing streak against the Tide that runs all the way back to January 2012 in the Superdome.

The Southern Dominican Province will honor Michie Bissell, a retired dental hygienist, volunteer and civic activist, at its Nov. 14  at 6:30 p.m. gala at Copeland Tower Suites, 2701 Severn Ave., in Metairie.

What is your image of God? How do you envision God as you pray and reflect on God’s word? Has your childhood image of God developed into a deeper understanding of who God is and who you are in relationship to God?

Nov. 3-9 is National Vocations Awareness Week in the U.S. You’ve frequently reminded Catholics not only to pray for vocations but also to take a more active role by posing the question to someone whom they consider might have the qualities for a vocation to the priesthood, diaconate or religious life.

The church resolves conflicts and discerns God’s will by patiently listening, discussing and deciding under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Pope Francis said. “It is the Spirit, in fact, who helps overcome narrow-mindedness and tensions, and works within hearts” to build unity “in the truth and the good,” he said Oct. 23 during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square.

Two schools that were football fledglings in 1964 are now vying for the District 9-5A championship and possibly for the No. 1 seed in Division I.

You are called by God to be a saint! And that all important calling from the Lord is not just to be seriously considered on All Saints Day – but every day! It is no coincidence that the Catholic Church proclaims the Gospel passage of the Beatitudes on the Solemnity of All Saints. For in this most wonderful teaching from the Son of God, we are shown the way to holiness, to blessedness, to joyfulness.