All Saints Month Of Remembrance

We observe this ancient Feast of All Saints with the celebration of Mass on the Queens, NY, campus. The schedule for Masses is

Queens Campus
Friday, November 1, Solemnity of All Saints
8 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.
St. Thomas More Church

November, the Month of Remembrance

The entire month is an interesting time with many feast days of great saints—and also subtle signs of eternity. It begins with All Saints’ or All Hallows’ Eve (i.e., Halloween). 

The Feast of All Saints is followed by November 2, All Souls’ Day, or (more officially) the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed. It is a very beautiful part of our ancient Catholic tradition, dating back to 998 A.D. It provides the opportunity to pray for our beloved dead and mourn those we miss, but also to reflect on the mercy of God and our hoped-for salvation. 

At St. John’s, we remember our beloved friends and family by praying for them at Mass and through our Virtual Book of Remembrance. This book has the names of family, friends, alumni, and colleagues from the St. John’s community who are among the dearly departed and for whom we offer our prayers during November. You can submit the names of your deceased loved ones to be remembered at the Masses in St. Thomas More Church during the month of November in our Virtual Book of Remembrance.

Our University community will celebrate the Mexican tradition called El Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead), where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink, photos, and celebration.

A blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion, and Spanish culture, the holiday is celebrated each year from October 31 through November 2. According to tradition, the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31, and the spirits of deceased family members can rejoin their families for 24 hours. This custom honors our beloved deceased. Source: https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/day-of-the-dead

On Thursday, October 31, our University community will honor this tradition with a prayer after the 12:15 p.m. Mass. We will prepare an altar in the church Narthex; all members of our community are invited to leave the name(s) of a loved one as we begin praying for those represented. During the week of October 28th, there will be altars in multiple residence halls; all names will be transferred to the church Narthex altar for this gathering on October 31. 

For more information, please contact Dennis Gallagher, Director of Liturgy and Faith Formation on the Queens campus, at 718-990-2125.