Students Offer Rosary Octave for Departed Souls

Beginning on the first day of November, students at Thomas Aquinas College held nightly vigils on both coasts to pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

For the first eight days of November, following the Feast of All Saints, those who pray for the dead in Catholic cemeteries can gain a plenary indulgence each day for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Each year, students make this commitment nightly, piling into shuttle buses and cars after their seminars and evening activities to gain indulgences for the souls who can no longer pray for themselves.

In New England, the prayer mission was headed by Head Chaplain Rev. Greg Markey, who led the procession each evening at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, while in California, Rev. Brendan Kelly brought students to Santa Paula Cemetery. Though the New England November weather was characteristically brisk and bitter, everyone bundled up in coats and scarves, praying and singing the Salve Regina in communion under the stunning bright stars. The Californians did the same – albeit facing less chilly weather conditions – as they prayed the Holy Rosary and shed a little light amid the darkness.

Each night, as students gathered at the shuttle pickup location, new faces joined the crowd. Though the group was small on the first evening, by the last night of the “All Saints Octave,” it had doubled in size. “It was such a wonderful experience,” remarked Sarolta Umaña (‘29). “It is a beautiful thing to come together to pray for all souls.” 

More New England Cemetery Rosary photos … 

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