Sunday 1 November 2026: Requiem Mass for All Souls & Commemoration of the Faithful Departed.
Join us in person this Sunday at 10am for our Parish Mass as we celebrate the Feast of All Saints Day.
The Liturgy & Service Booklet for our Parish Mass, including Readings, Hymns, Psalm & Parish Notices, can be found here:
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Sunday 1 November 2026: Requiem Mass for All Souls & Commemoration of the Faithful Departed.
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You are warmly invited to join us at for our Requiem Mass at 6pm as we commemorate All Souls, remembering before God all those who have died, giving thanks for their lives, and entrusting them to his infinite mercy, love and everlasting peace.
As we gather for this solemn and deeply meaningful act of worship, we come together in remembrance, thanksgiving and prayer. All Souls is a time when the Church remembers especially those who have gone before us in faith, those whom we have loved and lost, and all whose earthly lives have come to an end. It is also an occasion to reflect upon the Christian hope of resurrection and the promise that, through Jesus Christ, death does not have the final word.
Our readings draw us into the mystery of God’s everlasting love, his promise to overcome death, and the assurance of new and eternal life through the resurrection of his Son.
In our first reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, we hear a beautiful vision of God’s promised kingdom, where the Lord prepares a great feast for all peoples and removes the shroud of death that hangs over the nations. The prophet declares that God “will swallow up death for ever” and “will wipe away the tears from all faces.” These words offer profound comfort to those who mourn, reminding us that suffering, sorrow and death are not the end of God’s story for his people. Beyond the pain of separation lies the promise of a future in which God’s love restores all things and his people rejoice in the fullness of his salvation.
The Psalm, expressed through the familiar and much-loved words of The Lord’s my Shepherd, reminds us of God’s faithful presence throughout every season of life. Even when we walk through the darkest valleys, we are never abandoned, for the Lord himself is our shepherd, guiding, comforting and sustaining us. As we remember those who have died, these words invite us to place our trust in the God whose goodness and mercy accompany us throughout our earthly pilgrimage and whose love endures beyond the grave.
In our second reading from St Paul’s Letter to the Romans, we are reminded that through Jesus Christ we have been brought into peace with God and given the hope of sharing in his glory. St Paul acknowledges the reality of suffering, yet declares that suffering can produce endurance, endurance character, and character hope. Most importantly, he assures us that “hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” At a time when grief may leave us feeling vulnerable or uncertain, these words remind us that Christian hope is rooted not in wishful thinking, but in the saving love of God revealed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Finally, in St John’s Gospel, we encounter one of the most moving moments in the ministry of Jesus, as he meets Martha following the death of her brother Lazarus. Martha speaks from the depths of her grief, expressing both her sorrow and her faith. In response, Jesus offers words that stand at the very heart of our Christian hope: “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live.” These words remind us that resurrection is not simply a distant promise, but is found in the person of Jesus Christ himself. In him, the power of death is overcome, and the promise of eternal life is opened to all who place their trust in him.
Together, these Scriptures remind us that All Souls is not simply a day of sadness or remembrance, but an expression of our Christian faith in the resurrection, the mercy of God and the enduring communion of love that unites us in Christ. Although death brings the pain of separation, we trust that those who have departed this life remain within the loving care of the God who created them, redeemed them and calls them into the fullness of his eternal kingdom.
During our Requiem Mass, we shall offer special prayers for the Faithful Departed. As their names are read aloud during the Prayers of Intercession, candles will be lit in remembrance, symbolising the light of Christ which shines in the darkness and which no darkness can overcome. In this simple yet profound act of prayer, we remember with love those whose lives have touched our own, entrusting them once more to God’s mercy and everlasting peace.
As we celebrate the Holy Eucharist, we give thanks for Christ’s victory over sin and death, and for the promise that nothing, not even death itself, can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. We join our prayers with those of the whole Church, on earth and in heaven, asking that all the Faithful Departed may rest in peace and rise in glory.
For some, this service will be an opportunity to remember a loved one whose death is still recent and whose absence is deeply felt. For others, it will be a time to remember family members, friends and companions whose lives remain precious in memory, however many years may have passed. Whatever our circumstances, we gather in the assurance that grief and love can be brought before God in prayer, and that his compassion embraces us in our sorrow.
Whether you are a regular member of our congregation, visiting for the first time, seeking a quiet moment of remembrance, or simply wishing to join us in prayer for someone you have loved and lost, you will receive a very warm and compassionate welcome.