Chamber Newsletter November 2009 Vol. VI No. 11
All roads led to the various cemeteries in Butuan City, on November 1. For those of Chinese descent, they trooped to either the Chinese Cemetery at Bancasi or the San Vicente Memorial Park. In our case, our dearly beloved dead was buried in the City Cemetery adjacent to the Chinese Cemetery, near the exit road. As soon as we arrived there, it was hard to visit other tombs due to the heavy traffic.
To put some order to the traffic, the Bancasi Barangay Council had decreed that the main road would be one way street, with parking allowed only on the left shoulder. Although we arrived early, the traffic was already quite heavy and all parking areas available were occupied. We had to go directly to our loved one’s tomb, as we had brought along some other things aside from what we had set up the previous night.
We waited awhile as our parking area was occupied by another car. It is good that when they noticed that we were causing additional traffic, the owner came and vacated the area. After parking, Fr. John’s car arrived and he parked it on the roadside of the exit road further down, and walked. And as it had not rained for several weeks on end, the road was dusty, and the grasses dried up. The sun was exuding excessive heart and our tent could not shield us all so we used a large umbrella to protect us.
Fr. John prayed for his maternal grandmother, with all of us joining in. We prayed not just for the repose of the soul of Anita Dy- Uy and for all our relatives and friends, but also for those who had been forgotten by their relatives. The Bible says that it is good to pray for the dead, so traditionally, the Church prays for our deceased brothers and sisters. We believe that with our prayers, they can be relieved of their pain since the punishment due to sin have to be paid. As all humanity is prone to sin, except the Blessed Virgin Mary, nobody can go to heaven with stain of sin in his soul, however venial. Therefore, let us continue to pray fervently for the dead that they may achieve heaven much sooner.
|
