SHILLONG/TURA: Even the unseasonal heavy rain could not dampen the spirit of the Catholic faithful on All Souls Day on Friday who turned out in hordes at the cemetery in Laitumkhrah.
In his homily at the Requiem Mass, Archbishop Dominic Jala observed that praying for the departed souls is based on the enduring hope the Catholic faithful have on the afterlife. “This hope is not something inconceivable, but a hope which has basis.”
He said death is not only an end of life on this earth, but a path to eternal life. “Like Christ who died, but rose again from the dead we too, when we die, shall rise again to eternal life one day.”
This is “why we offer mass for the departed souls who have a share in Jesus’ resurrection,” he said adding He does not want us to be perpetually on this earth, but one day to be with Him.
The day was also marked by the blessing of every grave at the cemetery with the sprinkling of holy water and the invoking of prayers by the many priests present for the purpose.
Besides the Catholic faithful, there were many non-Catholics, Christians and non Christians who had come with their Catholic kith and kin to join in the prayers and devotions of All Souls Day.
Over the years, the Catholic Church Cemetery at Laitumkhrah has also drawn a growing number of visitors especially in the evening to witness the long rows of flickering candle lights which illuminate this burial ground of thousands of departed Catholic Church faithful including the dead and gone missionaries who had left their indelible mark in the social fabric of Northeastern India.
Weeks before All souls Day, Catholic Church cemeteries at different parishes witnessed high footfall of faithful who cleaned the overgrowth at the graves, sites of their departed near and dear ones and gave the graves a fresh coat of paint.
Day observed in GH
To commemorate the annual observance of All Souls’ Day, Catholics took part in a special holy mass at cemeteries across the Garo Hills region on Friday offering flowers and lighting candles at the graves of their departed loved ones.
In Tura, church service was held at Catholic cemeteries in Dakopgre (Rongkhon Songgital) and RC Road (Bishop house) attended by hundreds of catholic faithful who brought colourful floral wreaths to place on the graves.
The Bishop of Tura, Rt Rev. Andrew R Marak, led the faithful in offering holy mass and later blessed the graves by sprinkling water blessed for the occasion.
Similar church service was held at Williamnagar, Baghmara, Resubelpara, Ampati and other towns of Garo Hills.
Bishop Marak called upon the faithful to embrace the teachers of Lord Jesus Christ and said there is an afterlife if we believe in Christ.
He narrated from the Holy Scriptures how Christ came and resurrected Lazarus from the dead.
“He who believes in me shall never die but have eternal life,” said Bishop Andrew while quoting from the holy Bible.
He also said that All Souls’ Day is a very special and holy occasion because we all remember our loved ones who have left this world and offer prayers for their souls so that they may have eternal peace.