November 2026 Monthly Letter

We Remember

Happy November!  As we celebrate All Saints Day today, we remember those ordinary men and women gone before us that chose to lead extraordinary lives putting their faith at the very center of their being.  Their witness, courage, and fortitude are extraordinary examples of what it means to completely believe in the resurrection of the dead and eternal life with God in heaven.  The example of the saints helps us focus our energy and attention on the hope of the risen Christ and understand that we are all called to become a saint!

Tomorrow we celebrate All Souls Day as we remember those in our lives who have gone before us and passed along the faith to us.  We are so grateful for their love, support, and contributions to our own lives.  We continue to pray for our dearly departed that by the grace of God, they will be granted sainthood in the eternal kingdom of heaven.

During this month of November, as we remember our beloved departed, we are reminded of the many inquiries we have received from fellow team members asking about resources and materials for widows/widowers in Teams of Our Lady.  This is a very important and delicate topic that has no "one size fits all" answer.   

We brought forth this very topic to the leadership couples this past summer at the USA-SR College in Minnesota.  We posed the following questions that we are frequently asked in an open discussion forum:

• How does a team move forward when such an integral part of the team is no longer present?
• How does a team support each other after the death of a teammate?
• How does a team offer support for the surviving widow/widower?

In our discussions, the Holy Spirit led all of us to realize that every situation is unique.  Factors such as how long a team has been together or what stage of life the widow/widower is in at the time of the passing are just two of the key factors that affect each situation.  As we shared, we realized there are many ways to support a family experiencing a loss like the death of a spouse.  It may simply be just being present with them, praying for and with them, or bringing them meals. 

Each individual has different feelings and thoughts about continuing with the team.  Some easily continue with the team and share their experiences from their Sacrament of Marriage.  They feel comfort with their team and want to continue meeting with them.  Others experience such a deep sense of loss by attending a team meeting with other couples that it is too much to bear.  Even if an individual chooses to no longer continue in Teams, we can always remain in communication with the widow/widower and invite them to socials.  This is a great way to keep the connection.  It leaves such a hole in a team with one person gone and even more so with the couple.

We also posed these same inquiries to our Super Region counterparts across the globe at the ERI College we attended in Villa de Leyva, Colombia, in July.  We discovered that Super Region France-Luxembourg-Switzerland wrote a 3-meeting study topic on this very topic a few years ago.  They provided us with a copy of the study topic in French.  The title is “La mort d'un équipier… Un chemin d'espérance a vivre en équipe” translated in English to "The Death of a Teammate...a Path of Hope to be Lived as a Team." We are proceeding with formal translation of the material into English, Spanish, and Portuguese and formatting the study topic to be made available on the USA-SR website for all our team to access as a resource.  This is a beautiful example of the Teams charism of mutual help on an international scale.  Our hope and prayer is that this document may help widows/widowers as well as teams navigate this time of loss and grief together.  More information will be forthcoming.

Sector Couple Experience

Attention all new or incoming Sector Responsible Couples, please be on the look out for an invitation to the 2027 Sector Couple Experience at Malvern Retreat House in Malvern, PA, from July 9-11, 2027. This is the singular National event that is hosted every two years. If you are invited, this is a truly amazing experience filled with sharing, formation, prayer, and connection. Do not let fear of the unknown or uncertainty steal this amazing opportunity from you, your spouse and your marriage!  Invitations will be sent in early 2027.  For more information, contact info@teamsofourlady.org

Goals Update...

We only have 2 more months to meet or exceed these goals.  We need everyone's help to spread the word and encourage being builders of the Movement!!!

Please help us reach our goals and spread the word about the importance of registering and contributing.  

"A movement declines toward death when its members stop thinking like builders and start thinking like tenants!"  - Fr. Henri Caffarel

November 2026 Prayer Service

Please find the November Prayer Service prepared by Fr. Eli Lopez, USA-SR Spiritual Counselor, reflecting on Genesis 45:4-15 in the third chapter of the new 2026-2027 Study Topic, "History of Salvation: History of a People, of a Family."

We are praying for all of you!  Our Lady, Queen of Teams, pray for us!  Venerable Fr. Henri Caffarel, intercede for us!

Peace, Greg & Melanie