All Saints’ Day

On November 1, we celebrate All Saints' Day and honor all the saints in heaven, known and unknown. This special day gives us an opportunity to remember not only the canonized saints but also the countless faithful who may never be officially recognized, yet have lived lives of holiness. In our chapel, the Memorial Wall is adorned with the golden names of our community’s saints, a visible reminder of those who have shaped our history and touched our lives.

During Vespers on All Saints Day, we gather to recite the names of our deceased Sisters, reading them aloud by the month and year of their passing. This tradition is a moving way to keep their memory alive within our community. As each new month begins in the recitation, a Sister steps forward to light a candle at the Memorial Wall. By the end of the service, twelve candles glow in honor of all those who have gone before us, joined by any candles still burning for recently departed Sisters. (These funeral candles burn for thirty days, serving as a continual prayer for the newly deceased.)

All Saints Day is a time when we pray to those who have gone before us, asking for their intercession and guidance. The next day, All Souls Day, is set aside to pray for our departed loved ones and all the faithful departed. It is a time to offer prayers such as the Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be for each person we wish to remember. These days are deeply meaningful, connecting us to the communion of saints and reminding us that we are part of a much larger spiritual family, both here and in heaven.