The celebration of All Souls day 2009 falls on Monday November 2nd.
There will be a Requiem Mass in Latin (Novus ordo) at 9.30am. This will be followed by blessing of our cemetery adjacent to St Birinus Church.
Parishioners are invited to stand beside the grave of their deceased during the blessing and prayers.
November is the month of The Holy Souls and is dedicated to The Faithful Departed. Catholics are exhorted to pray for their dead and if possible to have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered for them.
A Black Burse containing the names of the dead whom Parishioners wish to be remembered will be on the Altar at St Birinus Church during the celebration of Holy Mass each day in November.
Envelopes for forwarding names to Fr John are obtainable at St Birinus Church.
Grave candles in a windproof shield are also available for purchase by those whom would wish to illuminate their family graves during November.
CB - 1 -11 - 2009
When the writer of this was a child november was known as the month of the Holy Souls and at his Salesian School boys collected money and performed stunts in order that Masses could be said for the Holy Souls.
On All Souls day 2009 a Latin (Novus Ordo) Reqiem Mass was celebrated. at St Birinus church.
A burse on the altar contained the names of persons especially identified by parishioners.
This day was, for the webmaster, the first opportunity for him to photograph the recently completed Rood Screen. The dark Oak screen has been gilded and the statues of Our lady and St John painted and gilded.
During the Mass a sermon based upon the readings of the day was given by Fr John Osman.
A few moments after the requiem Mass Fr John Osman and his acolyte came into the cemetery adjacent to St Birinus Church to bless the graves and to pray for the souls of the deceased.
Fr. John made a circuit of the cemetery sprinkling Holy water.
After his circuit of the cemetery with his Aspergillum Fr John prayed for the souls of all the faithful departed.
The prayers finished Fr. John, acolyte and congregation dispersed.
