Basilian Scholastics Celebrate Day of Dead by Honouring Basilian Confrères

The Basilian scholastics in Tlalpan, Mexico City shared in the Day of Dead celebrations by honouring past Basilian confrères. The Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico as an occasion to remember and to pay homage to deceased loved ones. For the Basilian scholastic community the Day of the Dead celebrations began on November 1, All Saints Day, by remembering children who have passed away in their families. On November 2, the scholastics remembered their adult relatives who have passed away in Commemoration of the All the Faithful Departed.

Each year, Mexican families prepare a shrine in their homes known as the Altar of the Dead, which are decorated with photos of deceased relatives, cempasúchil flowers (marigolds), intricately cut paper banners, sugar skulls or chocolate with the name of the deceased, candles, and everyday possessions of the deceased. Also placed on the altar is an offering of some the relatives’ favourite foods, such as the famous mole poblano, beer, cigars, and tequila, and sometimes incense is lighted to give off a sweet smell.

For the Mexican scholasticate community, the holiday lent itself to a fraternal atmosphere among the members of the house. Everyone took part in the planning for the festivities including buying the food necessary for the offering and designing and building the altar. Each of the scholastics shared some of the wonderful memories of the deceased in his own life and the community came together to remember their deceased Basilian brothers, among them are Basilian scholastic, Javier de la Rosa, CSB, Father José Isidro Castillo, CSB, Father Francis Launtrie, CSB, and Father Max Murphy, CSB.

The festivities concluded with the celebration of the Eucharist and thanking God for bringing beloved people into the scholastics’ lives. The Eucharist was followed with a simple dinner and reminiscing of the deceased Basilian brothers.

May the souls of the faithful departed rest in the light and peace of Christ.