Death is the most personal thing any of us will go through – think about that statement and how profound it is!  No one else can do it for us or with us!  Yet, despite the certainty of it, for most of us there is a sense of denial, a preference for changing the topic to something less confronting and more pleasant!   This week, we approach the  two great feasts of our faith, All Saints, which falls on this Friday, closely followed by All Souls’ Day on Saturday.

For us as Catholics, and as people of faith, the reality is that death has a central place. If the truth be known, death makes us focus on what matters in our lives and to wonder at the mystery of our coming into the world for such a relatively short time, only to leave it again. Any serious account of what it means to be human must grapple with death.

The stark reality is that our lives are a gift from God – only given once. But if our lives are lived well enough, once is enough.  What we do with our life is our gift back to God!

So, on this Friday we will remember the big people of our Catholic story, the ones who have made their mark and lived out their faith in such a way that we especially remember them.  Mother Teresa, Mary MacKillop, Edmund Rice, Catherine McAuley, Marcellin Champagnat—the list goes on and on!   That’s what we do on All Saints’ Day, we pray that they will not only intercede for us but also that their life, sacrifices and vision may inspire us along our own pilgrim journey here on the Sunshine Coast.

However, the following day, next Saturday, we celebrate All Souls’ Day.  There is definitely something much more tangible and personal about this day.  We might know the official saints by name from a book or a movie but we know the names of All Souls’ by experience!  They are our parents, children, siblings, relations, friends, those who were larger than life, and yet have died.  Next Saturday, we remember them!

As people of faith, we are people who believe, or at least struggle to believe, in the resurrection. We believe that death is not the end; that our lives are just to valuable for them to end without a trace!  We believe that Jesus, by his own death and resurrection, defeated death for all of us. It’s why we pray in the creed that we believe in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting! We believe that life continues after death. We’re often not really sure what that looks like, but we believe it. We put our hope in it. And because of that belief and that hope we also believe that we are still connected to all of those who are with us no longer.

All Saints’ Day Mass—This Friday—9am Stella Maris

All Souls’ Day Mass—This Saturday— 9am Stella Maris

So, during this holy time of remembrance let us mourn and celebrate. Let us remember those who have impacted our lives, let us learn from the examples of the saints, let us remember that we all continue to belong to one another.

Traditionally after the All Souls’ Day Mass we serve morning tea which is coordinated by our Parish Grief Support Team.
Please consider bringing a plate along to share after Mass next Saturday morning.  

At the entrance to our churches you will notice our Parish Book of Remembrance.  You are invited to take a few moments and record the names of your loved ones who have died and who you remember especially at this time.  Our Book of Remembrance will be the focus of our prayers during the month of November.

Stella Maris Parish Office

Adjacent to the Stella Maris Church – Office Hours 9am—2pm Weekdays

T: 5443 3488

E: [email protected]