Remembering All Our Faithfully Departed Brothers and Sisters

If family history had a favorite holiday, it might be All Souls’ Day.  All Souls' Day, also known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed and the Day of the Dead, (DĂ­a de los Muertos in Spanish speaking countries) is a day of prayer and remembrance for the faithful departed, which is observed by Roman Catholics and other Christian denominations annually on November 2nd.

Like All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day is for remembering people who have died. But, while All Saints’ Day is focused on Christian martyrs and saints, All Souls’ Day is all about the members of your own family and family tree. We will have a Mass to celebrate All Saints’ Day on November 1st at 7:00pm.

Those who participate in All Souls' Day traditions often remember deceased friends and relatives in various ways on this day. Through prayer, intercessions, alms and visits to cemeteries, people commemorate the poor souls in purgatory and gain them indulgences.

How could you celebrate All Souls’ Day?

This All Souls’ Day, make time to celebrate your family and its history. Attend Mass at 7:00pm at St Benedict and pray for the departed members of your family and our entire community of faith. When you return home you might spend time sharing stories and recalling how these family members impacted your life.

You don’t have to make huge preparations. Sometimes the easy, simple activities are the most meaningful.

Also, in church, during the month of November, we will have three tables set up for pictures or mementos of our loved ones who have departed. One of our tables will be culturally set up to celebrate DĂ­a de los Muertos. Please bring a picture or memento of your deceased loved one, tagged with an address label (so we can make sure the picture or item is returned to you) and place it on our tables of remembrance. All the people of our parish will pray for the faithfully departed this month and remember those who have left this world to share in eternal life.