Dear Friends in Christ,
The week I arrived at St. Patrick Parish, I walked up to St. Patrick’s Cemetery to pray for those who are buried there. In a way, I feel like they too are my parishioners. The most important thing we can do for our loved ones who have died is to pray for them, especially having Masses offered for them. I encourage you to come to the Masses on November 2nd–All Souls Day–to pray for our dead. The evening Mass that night will be offered for all of those whose funeral Masses were offered at St. Patrick’s this past year.
On Sunday November 5th (weather permitting), Fr. Sijo, whatever deacons are available that day, and I will go to St. Patrick Cemetery at 2:00 pm. We will gather at the Cross in the center of the cemetery, and pray for all who are buried at St. Patrick’s. Immediately after that, we would be happy to go with you to the individual graves of your loved ones, to say a prayer over their graves, and to give a blessing.
I hope to see you there.
Fr. David Barnes
A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is granted to the faithful who:
–on any and each day from November 1 to 8, devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, if only mentally, for the departed;
–on All Souls' Day devoutly visit a church or an oratory and recite an Our Father and the Creed.
To gain a Plenary Indulgence (only one per day), the faithful must be in the state of grace and the following
conditions must accompany the prescribed act:
- have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin;
- receive the sacrament of confession
- receive the Holy Eucharist
and recite prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father (one Our Father and one Hail Mary is suggested as a minimum, but any other additional prayers may be added).
It is appropriate, but not necessary, that the sacramental Confession and especially Holy Communion and the prayer for the Pope's intentions take place on the same day that the indulgenced work is performed; but it is sufficient that these sacred rites and prayers be carried out within several days (about 20) before or after the indulgenced act. Prayer for the Pope's intentions is left to the choice of the faithful, but an "Our Father" and a "Hail Mary" are suggested. One sacramental Confession suffices for several plenary indulgences, but a separate Holy Communion and a separate prayer for the Holy Father's intentions are required for each plenary indulgence.