Rev. Fr. Louis Chikanya, Parish Priest at Maula Cathedral, has urged the lay faithful to devote time to prayer for all departed souls, emphasizing the profound significance of November in the Catholic liturgical calendar.
The plea came as the Church worldwide observed All Souls’ Day on November 2nd, a time specifically dedicated to remembering and interceding for the deceased.
Fr. Chikanya highlighted the crucial responsibility of the living:
“It is very important that we pray for the dead. When people die, they no longer have the power to pray for themselves, so it is the living that pray for the dead. At the same time, this practice serves as a reminder that we, too, will die, and we should prepare ourselves for that day.”
He framed the act of intercession as an expression of profound Christian love:
“Praying for the dead is a kind of love—love for those that have departed, love for those that are no longer with us. By doing this, we acknowledge that we are all following the same path to God.”
Fr. Chikanya concluded his message with an enduring call to remembrance:
“May this day be a reminder that our deceased loved ones will always be in our hearts and memories. May all the souls never be forgotten. May this not only be the day for remembering them, but every day in our lives.”
