All Saints Day dedicated to those who made special contributions: Father Ryan
Yesterday was dedicated to ordinary people who made special contributions in life, says Labasa Catholic parish priest Father Jay Ryan. Father Ryan yesterday celebrated the mass at the St Christopher’s Church at Dogoru, in Labasa to celebrate All Saints Day.
“The day is dedicated to the saints of the Church, that is, all those who have attained heaven. As it is, when one talks about the saints, one imagines that they were extraordinary people with divine power. But this is not the case,” Father Ryan said.
“The saints were men, women and children who committed their life to doing great things for their families, friends, communities and their nation,” he said.
All Saints’ Day, is a Christian festival celebrated in honour of all the saints, known and unknown and is celebrated on every 1 No- vember by the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Methodist Church, Lutheran Church, and other Protestant churches.
Yesterday morning 42-year-old, Teresia Lalileta was one of the more than 200 people from Labasa, Wailevu and Seaqaqa that attended mass at Dogoru to celebrate All Saints Day.
“The saints’ lives are exemplary of how we should live our lives,” Ms Lalileta said.
“Simple things like forgiving those who wrong you, working for the poor, housing the orphans, widows and marginalised, sharing your riches and of course always seeking the mercy of God. “This could be a good challenge for us the people of this nation.
“Let us all be saints here on earth by loving our neighbours, caring for the sick, sheltering the destitute, doing works of charity and many more good acts. “
Meanwhile, all Catholic schools around Fiji and Rotuma were closed yesterday with the exception to secondary schools open for exams for Years 11 and 12.
Today is All Souls’ Day, a day which Christians observe and remember deceased relatives. On this day in particular, Catholics pray for the dead and also clean up cemeteries as part of their obligation.