Monday, November 2nd, is All Souls Day. On this day the Church remembers in a special way the souls of the faithful departed. The Church is the Mystical Body of Christ and this one Body of Christ has three expressions: the Church Militant (that’s us!) here on earth engaged in the spiritual battle for our sanctification; the Church Triumphant, or the Church in Glory, which are the saints known and venerated publicly in the liturgy, and the many undeclared saints who lived lives of outstanding holiness, and are enjoying the beatific vision; and finally the Church Suffering, the souls of the faithful departed undergoing purification in Purgatory, being purified by God’s love to come before His presence. On Monday, November 2, we as the parish communities of St. John the Baptist, St. Titus, St. Frances Cabrini, and Our Lady of Fatima will gather to remember and offer the holy sacrifice of the Mass for those parishioners who have gone ahead of us, marked with a sign of faith.
Our All Souls Day Mass Schedule is, as follows:
5:30PM at St. Titus, Aliquippa
6:00PM at Our Lady of Fatima, Hopewell Twp.
7:00PM at St. John the Baptist, Monaca
7:00PM at St. Frances Cabrini, Center Twp.
During the Mass, the names of our parishioners who have died over the course of this past year will be read, and prayers will be offered for their souls. Candles will be lit in their memory. At the conclusion of the Mass, the family of the deceased is welcome to come forward to take the candle home as a remembrance and a reminder to continue praying for our deceased beloved.