A Celebration of Remembrance
by Fr. Dave Kelly, c.pp.s., pbmr Director
We had a large gathering of folks here for the cel-
ebration of All Souls Day or, in many cultures, “Dia
de los Muertos.” It is a celebration of remembrance.
We remembered all those who have passed on, who
were so much a part of our lives.
Hundreds gathered here at pbmr, creating small altars
of remembrance. There was a procession through the
streets, rituals and blessings. People came with pictures
of their loved ones; mothers clutched the image of their
sons/daughters who were killed by violence.
As Catholics, we have a long and deep tradition of
rituals that allow us to tell our story of loss and suffer-
ing in the context of our faith story. Rituals allow us
to bring near and touch that which is hard to express
in words. In trauma work, we often use rituals and
storytelling, poetry and art, to help express and share
what so often is hard to verbalize. So often, youth who
have been victims of violence and abuse find it difficult
to talk about their emotions, but in poetry or art these
feelings are more accessible and more easily shared.
It is probably no surprise to most that I know
many who are locked up in our jails and prisons. I
keep in contact with as many as I can through visits,
phone calls, and letters. But it is hard to maintain re-
lationships with so many, especially as they are sent
downstate to a prison or detention facility. I struggle
with a sense of powerlessness, because I lose contact
with so many who are locked in our prisons.
Yesterday, Joe called from Cook County Jail. He is
twenty years old and has been locked up for almost
a year now. Joe was a constant at pbmr. He would
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December 2017 • The New Wine Press • 11