Deceased clergy, religious, remembered in Holy Rosary Cathedral

Nine recently deceased religious served the Archdiocese of Vancouver

The B.C. Catholic

More than 60 clergy gathered with many others to remember and pray for those who had laboured in the Lord’s vineyard. The annual Mass for deceased clergy and consecrated men and women was said in Holy Rosary Cathedral Nov. 3.

“Today we turn our thoughts and prayers to the deceased bishops, priests, and consecrated women and men who, in a rich variety of ways, laboured in our local church for the salvation of souls,” said Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, in his homily. “They have now passed through the restraints of time to the shores of eternity.”

Several of these generous souls who had died within the previous 12 months were remembered: Sister Anne Beatch, SCJ; Sister Josephine Carney, SSA; Sister Ann Rosario Desmarais, SCJ; Father Stanley Frytek, OFM; Brother Gerard Harasym, SDB; Sister Marcelle Lavigne, SCJ; Sister Albina Masina, CFM; Sister Rosemarie Poitras, SCJ; and Brother Leo Patrick Taylor, CFC.

“It is certainly appropriate that we gratefully recall the life and ministry of those consecrated men and women who gave themselves in service at different times and in different ways to the Lord,” Archbishop Miller said. “I can’t help but notice that all of (the recently deceased) were members of religious congregations, communities which have been and remain so vital to the life of our local church.”

“The Book of Ecclesiastes provides a sober, realistic reading of man’s fate in light of a human wisdom that recognizes ‘For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven,'” said the archbishop, referring to the First Reading of the Mass.

While life may seem bleak and hopeless, “In truth, evil and death have been defeated forever,” he said. “Evil has been radically defeated by redemption which He brought about.”

“Those who practise mercy need not fear death,” said Archbishop Miller. “If we will open the door of our lives and hearts to the least of our brothers and sisters, then our own death too, will be a door that introduces us to the definitive and lasting encounter with God and with all His chosen ones.”