On Monday, November 3rd, The Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Community gathered to remember our parish family members who have died over the previous year. Families of those who died received invitations to bring a framed photgraph of their loved one to place in front of the altar, near a display of their names and our parish's Book of Remembrance. The names of the deceased were also sung in a special litany, "Lux Aeterna," which asks Christ - the Eternal Light - to give rest and peace to the deceased.

Unique liturgical symbols also grace the altar, some of which are used for funeral masses:

• the Paschal Candle - representing Jesus Christ, our Savior and Light of the World;
• the Book of Remembrance - inscribed during the funeral with the name of the deceased;
• photographs of the deceased - images that help us remember our loved ones.

During a funeral mass, the priest also uses incense to perfume and the casket or urn as a sign of respect for the earthly body (in addition to incensing the Book of the Gospels and the altar). As the smoke rises, it also visibly signifies our prayers rising to our Heavenly Father. Holy water is also used to bless the casket or urn - a sign of our baptism into Christ's death and resurrection. During the Mass of Remembrance, incense and water recalled these ancient rites of passage that mark the journey of Catholic Christians. Father Oscar Reynoso also blessed the framed photos by sprinkling holy water on them.

Catholics often light votive candles in churches to pray for a special need or for a person who has died. The lit candle is a visible, tangible sign of our prayer intention.
At the end of the mass, family members were invited to pick up a candle from the altar area and process to the parish hall. There we placed labels with the names of the deceased on the candles, which families took home. Families can remember and pray for their deceased loved ones at home by lighting the candle.

The Mass of Remembrance enables us to reflect on the fragility of human life, to remember and pray for our deceased loved ones, and to reaffirm our commitment to live as Christ commanded us: love God with all our heart, mind, and soul; and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Many thanks to Fr Oscar Reynoso for offering the Mass and sharing wisdom about our grief journeys. Many thanks to Susie Herbst for preparing a beautiful Church environment; and, to our dedicated funeral ministry team who walk with grieving families throughout the year, and, who prepared and led a beautiful celebration: Kathie Cejka, Mary Ferguson, Jerry Gibbs, Madelene Handy, Patricia Murphy, Dorothy Schmitz