From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2013
Mama Stacy from Mombasa writes: “Father Beste I read your news dispatch about the press statement by Fr Lagho on religious extremists. Father there is rumours here in Mombasa that Bishop Lele is resigning on Friday November 1, have you heard about it?
I also read your dispatch on all saints day, but not yet on all souls. Are you planning to write about it? I have been wondering why priests celebrate 3 masses on that day and not on all saints day or other days. What makes the day so special to celebrate 3 masses?”
Thank you Mama Stacy for asking these questions and for reading my blog-the same rmous you are hearing is the same one we do hear about Bishop Lele. Rumous even have it that he resigned already and that is why his vicar general, Fr Lagho is issuing statements on his behalf.
We cannot confirm or deny the rumous until we get official statement from Rome. Archbishop Boniface Lele has not been feeling well and that is why he is to resign. Furthermore he is not going to be the first bishop in Kenya to resign before official age of 75 years. Bishop Linus Okok of Homa bay Diocese did the same and Cornelius Schilder of Ngong.
To answer your second question, on all souls day celebrated each year on November 2, every priest is required to celebrate 3 Requiem Masses: one, for the faithful departed; one for the priest’s intentions; and one for the intentions of the Holy Father.
The general intention for the pope in November is that priests experiencing difficulties may be comforted in their sufferings, sustained in the doubts and confirmed in their fidelity. Missionary intention is that the Churches of Latin America may send missionaries to other Churches as a result of the continental mission.
This privilege was granted by Pope Benedict XV in Incruentum altaris (1915) and has never been revoked. However, a celebrant may take a stipend for only one of the Masses on that day.
Traditionally these 3 Masses used to be celebrated consecutively, but because the timing of these Masses should respect the needs and working day of parishioners or the members of a religious community, which would not favor celebrating the three Masses one right after the other, one Mass can be celebrated at the parish or religious house and then the rest in the outstations.
If in case of religious house or formation, 2 Masses can be celebrated after the other and the third one in the evening. Again it will depend with the timing of the nature of their duties.
On this day Catholics are encouraged, not only to remember the dead, but also to apply their efforts, through prayer, almsgiving, and the Mass, to their release from Purgatory. There are two plenary indulgences attached to All Souls Day, one for visiting a church and another for visiting a cemetery.
The plenary indulgence for visiting a cemetery can also be obtained every day from November 1-8, and, as a partial indulgence, on any day of the year. While the actions are performed by the living, the merits of the indulgences are applicable only to the souls in Purgatory. This is because praying for the dead is a Christian obligation.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole
Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ
UN Disarmament
Conference, 2002