All Souls Day Masses at Catholic Cemeteries bring people peace in grieving

“Blessed are those who have died in the Lord; let them rest from their labors,” recites one of the prayers for the dead.

Praying for the souls of the departed to be blessed with eternal life in Heaven is the main point of All Souls Day that always lands on Nov. 2. This year, Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will celebrate All Souls Day Masses with four Masses at three different Catholic cemeteries.

• Mount Olivet Cemetery and Mausoleum (7801 Gulf Fwy. at Hughes Rd. in Dickinson) will host two Masses:
  - 10 a.m. Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS
  - 7 p.m. candelight Mass celebrated by Father Larry Wilson, pastor of Shrine of the True Cross in Dickinson
• Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum (2506 65th St., Galveston)
  - 10 a.m. Mass celebrated by Father Jude Ezuma, pastor of Holy Family Parish of Galveston-Bolivar
• Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum (3502 North Main St., Houston)
  - 10 a.m. Mass celebrated by Father Joseph Limanni

All Souls’ Day was first instituted at a French monastery in Cluny in 993 AD and quickly spread throughout the Christian world.

It was St. Odilo, the abbot of Cluny in France, who in the 10th century, proposed that the day after All Saints’ Day be set aside to honor the departed, particularly those whose souls were still in purgatory. On All Souls Day, the souls of the faithful departed are commemorated.

For more, visit www.ccadgh.org or call 281-337-1641. 

Mass at Lawndale Cemetery

Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery (6900 Lawndale St., Houston)
- 8:30 a.m. Mass celebrated by Father Justin Cormie, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Galena Park. RSVP for this Mass to 713-928-5141 or email [email protected].