Annual All Souls Day Mass held at Calvary Cemetery

Published: November 3, 2017

Aprille Hanson

Aprille Hanson

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor celebrates the annual All Souls Day Mass held at Calvary Cemetery in Little Rock on Nov. 2. Father Jack Vu, rector of the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock (left), and Msgr. Francis I. Malone, diocesan chancellor for ecclesial affairs and pastor of Christ the King Church in Little Rock, concelebrated the Mass along with Deacon Matt Glover, diocesan chancellor for canonical affairs (not pictured). Bishop Taylor emphasized to the crowd in his homily that while other Christian faiths view a funeral as more of a celebration of earthly life, Catholics know to pray for deceased loved ones and others who may be in purgatory.

“On All Souls Day, we lift up prayers also for those who have no one to pray for them; a beautiful expression of the communion of saints,” Bishop Taylor said. “We pray for the spiritual welfare of countless people who may still be in purgatory whom we’ve never met, but with whom we are united in faith in the mystical body of Christ.”

Msgr. Malone led a rosary procession through the cemetery following Mass, concluding at priests' circle where Bishop Taylor blessed the graves.