“Our objective is that each participant be able to pray for their loved ones and feel the solidarity of the community behind them,” she said.
Toronto Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Nguyen will be the main celebrant at Resurrection Cemetery in Whitby, Ont.
“It’s always a great feeling that the community is coming together to pray for our loved ones who passed away,” said Nguyen. “Each passes on from this life and continues to exist in communion with God.”
The Mass provides an opportunity to intercede for those who have passed away and are waiting for that blessed moment to be with God, said Nguyen.
“The feeling of the Mass is the feeling of family,” he said. “Even in mourning — in remembrance — we are present to one another as well as in prayer for one another.”
Some of the other celebrants at the Masses include Toronto Auxiliary Bishop John Boissonneau at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Woodbridge, Ont., Msgr. Marco Laurencic at Mount Hope Cemetery in Toronto and Msgr. Joseph Shiels at Assumption Cemetery in Mississauga, Ont.
And since all the Masses are held outside, the organizers pray for good weather. But just in case, there are rain sites. In the case of rain, those sites with mausoleums will move inside, while those without will move to nearby parishes. “But we’ve been very lucky and had a lot of good weather.”
For information, contact Profenna at (416) 733-8544 ext. 239 or see www.catholic-cemeteries.com.
Mass for Faithful Departed unique in letting people resolve their grief
By Vanessa Santilli-Raimondo, The Catholic RegisterTORONTO - Catholic Cemeteries’ Annual Mass for the Faithful Departed offers families who have lost loved ones a great source of spiritual strength, said Amy Profenna.
“By celebrating the Mass on the grounds where their loved ones are interred, it’s very special and very emotional for a lot of people,” said Profenna, manager of marketing and public relations at Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Toronto. “The Mass plays a unique role in the resolution of grief.”
Taking place Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. at seven different cemeteries throughout the GTA, Profenna is expecting more than 12,000 people to attend the annual outdoor summer Masses. Catholic Cemeteries has been holding the Masses for about 24 years — and they typically fall close to the Feast of the Assumption.
By celebrating the Annual Mass, Catholic Cemeteries aims to fulfill its mission as a vehicle of compassion to the bereaved, said Profenna.
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