We’ve gathered here this evening for an occasion that is both profoundly human and deeply Christian – we come together to remember. We recall those brothers of ours that we have cherished, those we have lost throughout this past year. And in that remembrance, we do something even greater; we do something that is of the utmost importance to us as Catholics: we pray.

You know, whenever we lose someone, there’s an ache, an emptiness, a silence where there was once a voice, a laugh, a presence. And that void will never be filled again in this life. But as Christians, we do not grieve like those who have no hope. How is that possible? Because our faith tells us that death is not the end of our story. Because of Jesus Christ, because of His life, death, and resurrection, we know that death is simply a doorway that we must pass through, rather than a dead end.

That’s why we’re here tonight. We gather to pray for our friends, for our fellow Men of Holy Family and Knights of Columbus, people who have walked this journey with us and been a part of our experience of faith and community. We come to continue entrusting them to the mercy of God. We pray because we believe in redemption – we believe that Jesus came to set captives free, to forgive sins, and to make us new. And that redemption doesn’t just apply to those of us who are living; it is actually most fully embodied beyond the grave.

Think about it – Jesus’ entire mission, His entire purpose was the salvation of humanity. He didn’t come just to teach or perform miracles. He came to rescue us from sin and death. His sacrifice on the Cross wasn’t symbolic; it was real, it was powerful, and it was effective. And because of that, we can hope for something beyond this life.

But what does that mean for those who have gone before us? It means we don’t just hold onto memories; we don’t just hold onto the experiences that we had with them, the wisdom they shared, the love they showed; we hold onto prayer. We pray for them because we trust in the power of God’s mercy. The Church teaches us that some souls, though saved, are still being purified. That purification isn’t a punishment; it’s actually a beautiful gift. It’s the completion of the work that God started here on earth, preparing souls for the fullness of Heaven.

And so, our prayers matter. When we gather for occasions such as this, we aren’t just reminiscing, we aren’t just thinking positive thoughts about our friends who have passed; we are taking an active role in their salvation, in the process of getting them into Heaven; we are doing our part to help them. The individual prayers we say for our friends who have died, the Masses we have offered for them, the sacrifices we make on behalf of the dead truly make a difference. Just like we would do anything to help our loved ones when they were alive, we do the same now.

This is what the Church has always taught. In Scripture, we hear about prayers being offered for the dead so they might be freed from sin. And in our liturgies, we constantly pray for “those who have gone before us, marked with the sign of faith.” Why? Because we are all connected in the Body of Christ – living and deceased – we are one family – we are the Church.

So today, as we remember our brothers who have died in the last year, let’s not only grieve their absence, but let’s also act. Let’s pray with confidence that God, who is rich in mercy, will bring them into His eternal embrace. We pray in thanksgiving for those He has already welcomed. And let’s also reflect on our own lives – are we living in that redemption Christ offers? Are we preparing our own souls to meet Him one day?

Because, the reality is, one day, you and I will be the ones remembered. And I hope that when that time comes, a group of our brothers will come together to remember the good things we have done, the positive ways we impacted their lives; but most importantly, that they will pray for us as well.

And so, we pray…

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Photo: Candlelight Service. Image generated using Jetpack AI Assistant.