Reflections on the Memorial Mass
Maggie Mairura from CAFOD’s Remembrance team reflects on this year’s Memorial Mass, which took place at St Mary’s Cathedral in Newcastle on Thursday 2 November.
It was a very wet and windy morning in Newcastle. I arrived early at the Cathedral and a very moving sight awaited me. Across the steps at the front of the sanctuary were rows of candles flickering in the semi-darkness. On each candle was the name of a loved one. They would remain lit all day.
I said a few words at the beginning and following this Bishop Stephen was presented with the CAFOD Book of Remembrance and a candle, which remained on the sanctuary for the rest of the Mass.
It was a beautiful Mass. In his sermon, Bishop Stephen referred to the many candles on the steps of the sanctuary and he asked us, in our charity, to remember and say a prayer for all those who have no one to light a candle for them on this Feast of All Souls. Bishop Stephen recalled the time when, as a young priest, he conducted a funeral for someone at which he was the only person present. It reminded me of a CAFOD supporter who has a Candlelight Fund for ‘all those who have died unloved’.
I know there were some technical issues for those who tried to watch the Mass online, and the sound quality isn’t brilliant, but I would suggest watching the recording nonetheless. At the very beginning, it is lovely to see the Book of Remembrance and candle being presented to Bishop Stephen.
At the end of Mass, there was an opportunity to meet and chat, and to offer those present one of CAFOD’s beautiful Remembrance prayer cards.
Watch the Memorial Mass
