Day to remember deceased

PETALING JAYA: Catholics nationwide today observed All Souls Day, by offering prayers to deceased loved ones and visiting their graves. The occasion comes a day after All Saints Day, which is celebrated on Nov 1.
This year, both events fell on a weekend, with many attending church services followed by visits to cemeteries or columbariums.
When met at the Kampung Tunku Christian Cemetery here, Father Albert Tan from St Francis Xavier Church said the purpose of All Souls Day is to assist those in purgatory, an intermediate state after death where those destined for heaven undergoes purification.
Ann C. Anthony from Subang said it was her late father who inspired her to pay respects to the dead, as she always followed him to visit her grandparents' graves during All Souls' Day.
Francisca Amritharaj, 50, from Shah Alam said she makes it a point to come with her siblings to her parents' graves every year to clean the site, light candles and pray for their souls.
"I am sad to see some tombstones vandalised by irresponsible people. I hope the authorities will look into it and take action on those responsible," she said.
In PENANG, hundreds of people took advantage of the weekend to visit the graves of their loved ones at the Western Road Christian Cemetery at Jalan Utama.
Family members, who brought flowers and lit candles, were seen reciting prayers next to graves that had been cleaned.
Hotel staff Veronica Rodriguez, 46, and her family, who were at the graves of her father and grandfather, said it is a special day for them to pray for their deceased loved ones.
Legal assistant Thomas Deevah, 42, told theSun that All Souls Day is an important event for Catholics as it is the day when families gather at the graves to remember their relatives who had passed away.
"My uncle, aunty, nephew and niece will gather here every year to clean our relatives' graves before laying flowers on them," he said.