You don’t have to wear a costume to participate in All Hallows’ Eve.
The Archdiocese of Vancouver cemetery Gardens of Gethsemani is trying to raise awareness of the Catholic origins of Halloween again this year.
All Hallows’ Eve, Oct. 31, is the eve of the feast of All Saints, a day dedicated to all people who now reside in heaven. Outreach and community coordinator Anna Loch said the cemetery will once again host its annual prayer service and a candlelight procession on the grounds that day.
“The whole cemetery will be lit up on this occasion as we pray for those in need of our prayers and commend ourselves to the prayers of the faithful deceased.”
The event, where people will stop to pray at statues of various major saints, is just the beginning of three days of events cemetery staff call Hallowtide. The festivities continue with Mass celebrated by Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, on the Feast of All Saints Nov. 1, followed by Masses in Korean, Vietnamese, and English at different times on All Souls Day Nov. 2.
“It’s part of our mission here at Gardens of Gethsemani: to bring people together to celebrate life, pray for the deceased, and remind each other about our eternal home in heaven,” said Loch.
The cemetery is also preapring for a Remembrance Day observance Nov. 11. All the details about these Masses and services are available at www.rccav.org/events.
