At 6 a.m. on November 2, a Mass for the souls of the deceased was solemnly celebrated at the Ossuary in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shrine at 38 Ky Dong, Saigon, Vietnam. The celebrant of the Mass was Father Peter Dinh Ngoc Lam, Superior and Parish Priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shrine, joined by Father Vincent Pham Cao Quy – Provincial Consultor, Father J.B. Nguyen Minh Phuong – Provincial Community Superior, along with other priests, brothers, postulants, and thousands of parishioners from both within and beyond the parish.
The Ossuary at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shrine houses thousands of ashes, including those of many priests and brothers of the Redemptorists. The attendance of thousands at the morning Mass reflects the love and remembrance of the living, along with their prayers offered to God for the souls of their departed loved ones.
In his homily, Father Paul Nguyen Minh Loc reflected on the meaning of remembering and praying for souls. Father Paul emphasized that, like the penitent thief who sought to be remembered by Jesus upon entering Heaven, through that desire, he was promised eternal life by Jesus. Similarly, we pray for the souls of our loved ones who have passed and ask Jesus to remember them and welcome them into eternal life in God’s presence. One day, when we ourselves depart from this life, we too pray that Jesus will remember us, trusting in His mercy.
The memorial Mass for the souls on November 2 is a beautiful tradition in the Church, providing us with an opportunity to express our remembrance and gratitude for those who have gone before us and to offer special prayers for them on this day.
Fr. Anthony Nam Nguyen, CSsR.
