Celebrating with all the Saints: Our Dear Departed Sisters
January 2020 – October 2020
Introduction: In the past 10 months 41 Sisters of our Province have been called home to God and, for the most part, we have been unable to come together as a community for the usual wake service and Liturgy of Resurrection. November 1, the feast of All Saints, seems like an appropriate time to gather in spirit with their spirits to remember their lives, together mourn their passing, and “say their names”. We do so in solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world who have not had the opportunity to mourn their loved ones in the traditional ways and find comfort in being together.
Opening prayer: Loving God, we celebrate Your Saints in all their glory today. We especially celebrate the lives of our sisters in community whom You have recently called home. We ask You to comfort their families, friends, former students and colleagues and all of us who mourn their passing. We thank You for the gift of each life, for the gifts they shared with us in community and with Your people in ministry. May they now be enjoying life with You and all the Saints. May we honor their memory by the lives we lead and the care we show one another each day. We make this prayer in Your name. Amen.
Ritual of Remembrance: Click play on the video below to slowly scroll through the pictures of our sisters, and say each one’s name aloud, perhaps mentioning or recalling some special gift or grace you remember about her. Press the spacebar or pause to stop the video at any time.
Song: Song of Farewell
Final Proclamation: Our dear departed sisters, we your sisters bless you as you have entered into that oneness with God for which we still strive. We cherish your death as the final proclamation of the Good News to us. May you meet Jesus who was the way you walked, the truth you followed, and the life you led. May Theresa and Caroline welcome you home. Finally, we commend you to the Holy Spirit through the powerful intercession of the most Blessed Virgin Mary and we entrust you forever into her blessed hands. Amen
