All Souls' Day

I've always been intrigued by the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), even before I watched the visually arresting and heart-string-tugging movie Coco. Celebrating our loved ones who have died, serving a feast in their honor, remembering them always as a part of our family -- these are such beautiful concepts.

It's been over 3 years since my dad passed away unexpectedly. Now that the shock and initial sadness has softened, I find that I love telling stories about him. I love remembering funny things that he did (there were a lot!). I love telling my daughter ways that she is like him, and telling her how amused he would have been by things she says and does. 

All Souls' Day ( Nov. 2) is a day to remember our loved ones who have died. It is a day to pray that they are in heaven with God, and that we will see them again when we join them in the Resurrection. Last year, Fr. Francis introduced a special evening Mass on All Souls' Day. It wasn't a Holy Day of Obligation, but something was calling me to that Mass. To find some healing, some peace, a special place to think of my dad with others who were grieving.

The Mass was beautiful. Church was mostly lit by candles. The music was moving and comforting. I vowed that I would promote the All Souls' Mass the following year, so we could have a larger community join in prayer for our loved ones. So here I am.

We have all lost people we love. Whether they died last month, or 30 years ago, we can come together as a community of believers, to pray for them, to remember them, to celebrate their lives. You are invited to bring a photo of your loved one(s) to church, to place on our Altar of Remembrance for the month of November. And please join us for Mass at  7 pm on  Friday, November 2.

~ Sue Fedea