Last Thursday evening, many members of our faith community gathered to celebrate Mass. We assembled, all ages, sizes and shapes, but we had one common point of reference: each person at the Eucharist that evening had previously attended funeral rites at our Church and had mourned the loss of a loved one during the preceding 12 months. Having many elderly parishioners in our parish means that we have many funerals here at St. Cecilia’s. But the large number of funerals does not take away from the pain and loss experienced by each family as they gather with others to honor their loved one at a funeral Mass.

Our hard working Outreach Committee, as usual, had meticulously planned the evening. After the homily, the name of the deceased was called by month of the death, and each family came forward to place a carnation in one of two large vases. The first person to come forward was our pastor emeritus, Father Cushing who had lost his beloved sister this past year.  One could sense palpably the strain and emotions in so many of the families, who still resonated with the pain of absence. But at the same time there was a wonderful sense of solidarity, in each family sharing in each other family’s pain. After each family had come forward, special carnations were placed in the vases in remembrance of Father Bernard Newcomb, our first pastor, Sr. Roberta Tierney and all members of our parish who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again. This year, a special carnation was added in memory of all our service men and women who have given their lives in battle in Iraq.

The evening concluded with a special reception in Newcomb Friendship Center. It was an opportunity for the various families to socialize and get to know a little better the many other people who also are experiencing loss.

We celebrated this special Memorial Mass on “All Souls Day” – the traditional day that the Church prays for all the faithful departed. It is an encouraging sign for today’s culture that we do not dispose ourselves of the memories of our departed family members and friends. Rather we keep them in prayer and often call them to mind, commending them to God’s love and the promise of eternal life. The Mass gives us the opportunity to put their passing in the context of the paschal mystery, death but new life.

May we keep in prayer not only our beloved dead – but also all those families who have lost someone close to them this past year. May they be encouraged by our support and the reminder that Jesus has promised us that He came to bring us life – life to the full.

Stay tuned…

(November 6, 2006)