Families visit cemeteries to honour departed loved ones
Fr Vijay Mendith, Fr Nelson Pinto, Fr Rodrigues, Fr Fernandes, Fr Prasad, and Fr D’Souza offering prayers at the Old Cemetery.
Belagavi
Christians in Belagavi and nearby areas observed All Souls’ Day on Sunday, a day marked worldwide on November 2 to remember deceased family members and loved ones.
On this day, families visit cemeteries to pray for the departed souls, decorate graves with flowers, and light candles as a mark of respect and remembrance. Though burial grounds are not considered sacred places, Christians believe in the blessings and peace associated with the souls of their loved ones.
Prayer services were held at several cemeteries across the city, including those near the Golf Course and Shahpur. The main Mass at the Old Cemetery near the Golf Course was celebrated by Rev Fr Vijay Mendith, assisted by Fr Nelson Pinto, Fr Michael Fernandes, Fr Albert D’Souza, Fr Rajendra Prasad, and Fr Dennis Rodrigues.
In his sermon, Fr Cyril Braggs reminded the faithful about the temporary nature of life. “As we pray in the cemetery, the deceased remind us that one day it will be our turn. Through good deeds and prayers, we must always be prepared for death, which no one can avoid,” he said.
Large numbers of people attended the services at the Old Cemetery and the British Cemetery near the Golf Course. After prayers, families lit candles on the graves of their loved ones, which were then blessed by the priests.
