In Hopeful Remembrance

Dear friends on the journey,

On this sacred day, we remember with love all those who have gone before us — parents, grandparents, children, friends, neighbors, and even those whose names we do not know but who are known and loved by God.

All Souls’ Day invites us into quiet reflection and prayerful hope. We call to mind faces and names, moments shared, and the ache of absence. Yet we do so with faith and hope, trusting that God’s mercy is greater than our grief. Our prayers today are not in vain; they are acts of love that reach beyond the veil of this world, helping our beloved dead draw nearer to the fullness of God’s light. To the world death seems final but to all of us believers it is a doorway into new life with Christ, an eternal life of peace and light.

One of my favorite proclamations at Mass is that in death “life is changed, not ended.” This truth is at the heart of today’s commemoration. We believe that death does not end our relationships — it transforms them. The bonds of love are not broken by death. As we pray for our loved ones, we are reminded that they, too, pray for us. This exchange of love and prayer is the beautiful mystery of the communion of saints — heaven, earth, united in God’s eternal love.

Today, perhaps visit a cemetery, light a candle, or simply whisper a loved one’s name in prayer.

      Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
      and let perpetual light shine upon them.
      May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed,
      through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

In doing so, we participate in God’s merciful work of healing and reunion.
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All Souls is an opportunity to hold both our sadness and grief in balance with our love, memories and the hope of eternal togetherness. Today I’m remembering my grandma and her gentle presence in my life, her patience and hugs, her humble generosity, her helpfulness. She died 24 years ago and I still miss
her but, now that I’m a grandma, she seems even more present to me.

Who are you remembering today? What do you miss most about them?
What do you admire most about them that you’d like to carry on in your life?
What does that glorious reunion with them look like?
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Siempre Adelante,
Teresa Runyon
Pastoral Associate

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