KANSAS CITY, Kan. — People of all cultures and ethnicities are invited to attend a special Mass in observance of All Souls Day and Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) on Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. in the mausoleum chapel at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, located at 38th and State Ave. here.
Father Peter Jaramillo, S.S.A., pastor of St. Mary-St. Anthony Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, will celebrate the Mass.
Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas encourages those attending to bring photographs of their deceased loved ones, artificial flowers and other items customary to the Día de los Muertos observance (excluding food and beverages) to place on the display table.
The traditional All Souls Day observance offers Catholics an opportunity to pray for family members, friends and others who are deceased and for those who may be in purgatory, awaiting transition to eternal life in heaven.
As part of Día de los Muertos, families gather at the gravesites of loved ones for a reunion of sorts. “Ofrendas” (offerings) on home altars remember and rejoice over the deceased with photographs, candles, their favorite foods and marigold flowers. Skulls and skeletons are prominent symbols of the Day of the Dead to remind that life is short.
For more information about the Nov. 2 All Souls Day/Día de los Muertos observance at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, call or email Catholic Cemeteries at (913) 371-4040 or: information@cathcemks.org.
