Between memory and hope: Faithful departed remembered at St. Ann’s Mass of Light
Father Reehan Soosai Antony, SAC, blesses candles lit in memory of beloved deceased during the Nov. 4 Mass of Light at St. Ann in Burleson.(NTC/Richard Rodriguez)
BURLESON — “I am the Resurrection and the Life; whoever believes in Me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” - John 11: 25-26
With these words of Jesus, Father Reehan Soosai Antony, SAC, opened the annual Mass of Light at St. Ann Parish in Burleson, inviting the faithful to gather around the altar and pray for the souls of their dearly departed.
Moments before liturgy began, more than 40 individuals and families bearing candles lit in memory of a loved one processed into the sanctuary. As each name of the remembered deceased was called, they stepped forward and placed the candle on an adorned table before the altar.
In his homily, Fr. Antony reflected on the Gospel passage where Jesus entrusts His mother to the disciple John, emphasizing the role of community and God’s accompaniment in time of grief. “You are not alone,” he reminded the congregation. “This community is with you and for you in your pain. We have gathered here this evening to pray for all the departed souls and also to pray for all of you who are going through this great loss, pain.”
The priest shared his condolences for the loss behind every candle.
“Every flicker of that candle reminds us of a name, a face, and a life,” he said. “Today, we stand between memory and hope. Memory that they are not with us … and hope that they are away from our side, but they continue to live on the other side — in the presence of God.”
God’s light accompanies the faithful through loss even in the silence of grief, Fr. Antony said.
“We miss them constantly, but God is telling each one of us that He is accompanying us through the loss, that we are not alone, with His hook and staff.”
In moments of grief and remembrance, the faithful are reminded, as we are during Easter, how Christ in the Paschal candle overcomes and transforms darkness into life, Fr. Antony continued. “Today, each time we look at this candle, let us look up to Christ. Let us invite Him into our life, to transform our darkness, our grief, into life and blessing.”
He prayed that each family, as they carried their blessed candle home, would carry the light of the person and faith forward.
A light to share
This year marked the fourth annual Mass of Light at the Burleson church, a tradition introduced to the parish by Fr. Antony. In past years, Char Smith has helped organize the event behind the scenes, helping with set up alongside the parish altar society and bereavement ministry.
This year, Smith joined the candlelit procession herself, carrying a candle in memory of her best friend of more than 60 years.
“I feel like these candles, as we carry them in, bring a light to our souls,” she shared. “We do this for the poor souls, but it’s brought a light to me, too — like someone’s going to do this for me one day.”
Parishioner Michelle Ramos immediately signed up for the Light of Mass upon learning of it. She hoped to pray for and honor her daughter, Ashlie King, who died suddenly at the age of 26 in September.
Accompanying Ramos were Ashlie’s two young children and the young mother’s boyfriend. The four wore matching pink shirts with Ashlie’s photo, a tribute they’d had made in the previous month.
Ramos shared her former husband had once prohibited any practice of faith in their home. However, Ashlie had chosen to be baptized as an adult last year, which now brings Ramos a measure of comfort.
“I figured this was going to be a way to at least honor her in the faith that I wish I could have raised her in,” Ramos said.
The warmth of the parish community has been a great source of comfort for Ramos, and she hopes to share the light of Christ with her grandchildren and raise them in the Catholic faith.
“You know, my daughter — my daughter may be gone, but my job isn’t done yet,” she said. “I’m still here for a reason.”