tvc.dsj.org | October 23, 2018
COMMUNITY
7
All Saints Day – All Souls Day – Remembering Our Beloved
By Laura Schemmel
November is the month of remem-
brance, prayerfully honoring the
memory of loved ones. Most celebra-
tions occur at the beginning of the
month. November 1 is All Saints Day,
a tribute to all saints, while November
2 is All Souls Day, dedicated to praying
for the dead.
All Saints Day was originally estab-
lished to celebrate the many nameless
martyrs who were granted eternal life
for their sacrifi ce. It was established by
Pope Gregory IV in 837 to replace the
martyrs’ celebration his predecessor
Boniface IV had set on May 13. This
feast day is a reminder of the commit-
ment we made in our baptism to live
the life of Christ. We seek to follow
the example they set and as we are all
one communion in Christ, we ask their
help and intercession in our own lives.
All Souls day is a day of prayer for
the dead that provides the opportu-
November is the month of remembrance,
prayerfully honoring the memory of loved ones.
nity for us to surround our beloved
dead with our prayers, especially
through the Eucharistic celebration, as
we companion them on their journey
to the Father. This is a joyful celebra-
tion. As Catholics our understanding
of death is seen through the lens of
Jesus’ death and resurrection. Our
celebration is hope-fi lled for our hope,
and the hope of all those who follow
Christ is that even as we share in a
death like Christ, we will share in a
resurrection like Christ. Death is not
the end and this feast marks our faith
in this hope-fi lled future.
Each and every one of us will be
touched by the reality of death on the
walk of our faith. The funeral rites of
our Church help us to remember that
no one truly dies alone but is accom-
panied by the community of believers
as eternity opens for each one of us. It
provides for the family and friends of
the deceased to actively enter into this
moment of passage as we shape a truly
fi tting farewell for our loved ones.
Catholic Cemeteries has resources
for you who are called upon to plan
a funeral celebration for a loved
one. The most advantageous time of
preparation is before the crisis of an
immediate death. In the course of a
grave illness of a loved one, it would
be beneficial and comforting for
family members to familiarize them-
selves with the process of a funeral
that would include a Vigil, Mass and
graveside service.
D u r i n g t h i s mo nt h pa r i s h e s
throughout the Diocese will offer
various ways to remember your loved
ones like the Book of the Dead to place
your loved ones’ name, a Celebration
of Remembrance that could include
a liturgy or mass with a time for fel-
lowship and it could be as simple as
off ering candles to light.
For more information regarding
Catholic Cemeteries visit our website,
www.ccdsj.org.
You are invited to join Catholic
Cemeteries celebration with a Mass at
Gate of Heaven Cemetery (English) or
Calvary Cemetery (English, Spanish
and Portuguese) on November 2 at
11 a.m. See our ad below or contact
our offi ce [email protected] or
(650) 428-3730 for more information
about these and additional masses
off ered in other languages.
CALVARY CATHOLIC CEMETERY CELEBRATES THE 9TH ANNUAL
October 27, 2018 | 11:00
am
– 4:00
pm
2650 Madden Avenue San Jose, CA 95116
In association with Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley.
• This event is FREE and open to the public! • Ritual, Music, and Dance • Face Painting and FREE
Children’s Crafts • Food, art and books for sale • A community altar for attendees’ photos & memorabilia
SPONSORS
[email protected] | 408.258.2940
Art by Sonia
Orban-Price
All Souls Day Masses — Friday, November 2nd at 11:00 am
Calvary Catholic Cemetery* Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery - All Saints Chapel
Celebrant Rev. Jon Pedigo Celebrant Rev. Christopher Bennett
2650 Madden Avenue, San Jose | 408-258-2940 22555 Cristo Rey Drive, Los Altos | 650-428-3730
*Mass at Calvary will be held outdoors and will be multilingual. Tents and chairs provided. Please allow time to park. For more information call 650.549.6056.