By Rose Brennan
STRATFORD—In a turn of events that could not be more different from last year’s unseasonably warm weather, All Souls’ Day brought with it the first frost of the approaching winter season. But even the chill in the air didn’t stop the outdoor Masses offered at six Diocese of Bridgeport cemeteries, in celebration of the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed.
While Bishop Frank J. Caggiano ventured to St. Mary-Putnam Cemetery in the diocese’s most western confines of Greenwich, Father Abelardo Vasquez and Deacon David Rivera, both of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bridgeport, returned to St. Michael Cemetery on the town lines of Stratford and Bridgeport.
Also see: All Souls Day @ St. Mary-Putnam (Greenwich w/ Bishop Caggiano), Gate of Heaven (Trumbull), St. Michael (Stratford), St. John (Norwalk) and St. Peter (Danbury)
In his homily, Father Vasquez recalled his early life in Colombia, where he was raised in a faithful Catholic family, attending daily Mass with his mother. It was also his mother who was thrilled when he told her God was calling him to be a priest, which she called an answer to her prayers.
Prior to pursuing his priestly studies in the United States, Father Vasquez had never left Colombia before. And when the day came for him to leave, he said he was “crying like a baby” in the airport, but was quickly comforted by his mother, who gave him something very special: her own Rosary beads.
“She said, ‘You will never be alone; keep this with (you) and I will always be with you,’” Father Vasquez recalled, showing the congregation the beads his mother gave him that day 17 years ago. “And since that day, until now, in those difficult moments and days, I take the Rosary beads and I pray, and that brings me comfort.”
Prayer came to connect Father Vasquez with his family whenever he felt far away from them. One winter in particular, there was a lot of snow, he said, holding his hand up to his own head to demonstrate the sheer volume of it. A New England winter was certainly a far cry from the warmth of Colombia, and Father Vasquez felt homesick.
“I called my mom and I said, ‘Mom, I think I want to come home,’” he said. “And she said, ‘What? Don’t complain. Pray, pray, pray.’”
The treasure of prayer, Father Vasquez said, is something that is often handed down from our families, and we grow up praying for our loved ones, especially those who have passed on. And according to Father Vasquez, that prayer “connects us to our loved ones.”
“Every time we pray, we have confidence that they are listening to us,” he said. “Every time we pray, we remember them in a special way. Every time we pray, we can smile, because we know that God has given them eternal rest.”
In addition to prayer, one of the treasures Father Vasquez said our deceased loved ones have given to us is our memories of them, which we recall with fondness and gratitude on All Souls’ Day.
“I’m sure you have many memories of your beloved ones,” he said. “Maybe you remember the food that they used to eat. Maybe you remember the holidays you celebrated together. Many good memories. So as we pray today, we pray for the eternal rest of each one of them.”
The final gift Father Vasquez spoke of on All Souls’ Day was the gift of hope, especially hope in the resurrection and in our loved ones’ journey to eternal life.
“My brothers and sisters, my wish for you is don’t lose hope,” he said. “Don’t lose hope. Pray. Pray, because this is the best way for how we can connect with the people we love.”
