Mass for deceased clergy to be Nov. 3
By Josh Tng
The B.C. Catholic
The archdiocese will pray for the souls of deceased clergy who laboured for the Church in Vancouver at a memorial Mass.
“The month of November is traditionally the time when Catholics pray for all the deceased and have Masses offered for our loved ones who have left this world,” said Msgr. Pedro Lopez-Gallo, the judicial vicar of the Vancouver Regional Tribunal.
“We believe that prayer for our dead assists those who are not yet ready to enter heaven to pass through their time of purification and purgation.”
The Mass for deceased local priests, bishops, and members of religious orders will also have prayer for others to join their ministry.
“It is good and beneficial to pray for the deceased in order that their sins be forgiven,” said Msgr. Lopez-Gallo. “The Bible says an atoning sacrifice is offered for the dead so that they might be released from their sins.”
The Mass will be celebrated in Holy Rosary Cathedral Nov. 3 at 12:10 p.m. Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, will say the memorial Mass.
“The highest sacrifice we Christians possess is the prayers of the holy Mass,” Msgr. Lopez-Gallo said. The souls of people in purgatory need our prayers to help them reach heaven, and then, in turn, “We are allowed and encouraged to ask them to help us, much as we pray to the saints.”
