DANBURY—More than two hundred people gathered on All Souls Day at St. Peter Cemetery to offer prayers for the journey of the faithfully departed seeking eternal life with God.
“It is on this day we remember those who are in need of repentance to get to heaven,” said Father Michael Dunn, Pastor of St. Gregory the Great Parish in Danbury.
At the gravesite Mass under a white tent, Father Dunn said when a loved one dies or during the annual commemoration of All Souls Day, it is common to contemplate what will happen to our soul.
“The truth is that our souls do live on after this world,” he said. “For Christians, death is the journey for life after the grave. All souls in purgatory don’t go to hell, they eventually go to heaven. We need to pray for the souls in purgatory. The Church teaches they cannot pray for themselves.”
Father Dunn said the faithfully departed are still a part of the Church family and as such need our prayers.
“They need our help to get to heaven,” Father Dunn said. “The souls in purgatory are tomorrow’s saints in heaven; by praying for and helping one soul in purgatory we will cover a multitude of sins and help save our own souls in the process.”
“They are indeed yearning to enter into heaven and once there, they will be eager to pray for us,” he said.
The altar was adorned with a red and white carnation flower arrangement and right and white carnations were given to those in attendance, many of whom placed the flowers on the graves of loved ones. Bottled Holy Water from Lourdes was also gifted to those in attendance. Catholic Cemeteries sponsored and coordinated six All Souls Day masses in the diocese.
“I think it’s great to have Mass here,” said Carolyn Troccolo, who placed flowers on the graves of loved ones before and after the mass at the Lake Avenue Extension cemetery.
Maria Cefaloni, of St. Joseph Parish in Danbury, who has been attending the gravesite mass for years, agreed. Cefaloni said being near the loved ones she is praying for, makes the experience more special.
“I got emotional in the service,” she said.
She was not alone on this unseasonably warm and bright Fall day where sunglasses doubled to protect eyes from the glare of the sunlight as well as hide teary eyes weeping for souls who have passed. Grief was lifted, even if briefly, as families and friends, left the mass and could be heard sharing cherished memories of loved ones.
