The words “TODOS LOS SANTOS”, “UNDAS”, “ONDRAS” have a lot of emotional undertones for us, Filipinos – it is the day for remembering our beloved dead. Back home in the Philippines, October 31st would always find bus, train, boat stations filled with thousands of people trying to get seats to be able to GO HOME to celebrate with their relatives and friends in the cemeteries where one truly experience “communion of saints” – a gathering of both the living and the dead.
It is noticeable that this much loved tradition of veneration of our beloved dead among Filipinos is slowly disappearing here in the United States. The reason that comes to mind is that America is not a Catholic country and therefore November 1 is not a holiday but a work day unlike in the Philippines. The focus here is the highly commercialized Halloween celebration and being a work day most Filipinos could not go to the cemeteries…and even if they are able to go, they find very few people there because Americans honor their dead on Memorial Day.
The Office of Filipino Ministry would like to offer an alternative to provide Filipinos an opportunity to gather together – not in the cemeteries where gathering and celebrating are not possible – but in a church especially designated for this purpose where together we can pray very especially for our dead. Fr. Mike Mandala, SJ, graciously accepted my request to designate his parish as the church where we can gather and celebrate together a memorial mass for our beloved dead on:
Tuesday, November 1, 2005 – 7:00 p.m. mass Blessed Sacrament Parish 6657 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 Fr. Joel Henson, Main Celebrant
There might not be a lot of attendance for this memorial mass being the first time that we are doing this, but I am hoping in the future, November 1 will be a day where Filipinos throughout the archdiocese will gather together in the spirit of our Todos Los Santos celebration in the Philippines at Blessed Sacrament Parish.
Incorporated in our celebration will be the offering and lighting of vigil candles with the names of your beloved dead in front of the altar while the Litany of Saints will be chanted – (please come earlier to pick up your candles) - we will also bring up to the altar the list of our beloved dead (see enclosed) that we will put in a basket during our offertory procession. Please fill in the names of your beloved dead in the enclosed sheet and mail back on or before OCTOBER 15 to:
Office of Filipino Ministry
4954 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029
For your donation, please make your checks payable to: Filipino Ministry
After the mass, we will have our “salo-salo”– again in the spirit of our Todos Los Santos celebration in the Philippines where families gather for a meal. We can have potluck or we can ask caterer/s to provide food for us to buy and while we are eating we can have an informal sharing on how we celebrate Todos Los Santos in the different provinces in the Philippines.
Thank you and looking forward to receiving your lists so we can start printing labels for the vigil candles and seeing you on November 1 at Blessed Sacrament Parish. God bless you!
Ang nagmamahal ninyong Lingkod,
Sr. M. Christina O. Sevilla, RG
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