Missionary Work: Praying for the Living and the Dead

Lent, as we know, is a period of penitential preparation for Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday, six and a half weeks before Easter, and provides a 40-day period for fasting and abstinence (Sundays are excluded), in imitation of Jesus Christ’s fasting in the wilderness before He began His public min

Mar 17, 2023

By Arianne Abigail D’Costa
Lent, as we know, is a period of penitential preparation for Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday, six and a half weeks before Easter, and provides a 40-day period for fasting and abstinence (Sundays are excluded), in imitation of Jesus Christ’s fasting in the wilderness before He began His public ministry.

Other than praying and fasting, missionary works are highly encouraged amongst Christians in the weeks leading up to Easter. This is what the Youth Ministry of the Church of St John Marie Vianney have engaged in. The first week of Lent was all about visiting those who are sick. For the second week, (March 5), the Youth Ministry chose to visit the Catholic graveyard in Tampin to ‘Pray for the Living and the Dead’.

The youth gathered in the Casa de Vianney hall after Sunday breakfast and were given a briefing by the youth leader on the tasks to be done and safety measures to observe. Around 12 youth joined the mission and the church van was used to get to the cemetery.

They arrived around 10.30am and began collecting litter around the graveyard — old candles, water bottles and wilted flowers, filling four garbage bags. After disposing the litter collected at the nearby dumpster, the youth gathered in the small hall at the cemetery for a brief sharing about the living and the dead by the youth leader.

A short prayer concluded the whole mission and the youth were given time to ponder on the sharing given. They then returned to church around 11.30am. Praying for the living and the dead is one of the simplest but most forgotten works of mercy. Many of us choose to pray for our personal needs and the needs of others but in this millennial age, we often forget to pray for the departed souls. This missionary work not only builds our faith in the Lord but also strengthens our morals and virtues.