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Laotian Catholics remember their dead

ucanews.com reporter, Ban Xieng Vang

ucanews.com reporter, Ban Xieng Vang

Updated: November 09, 2010 10:33 AM GMT
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Support Asia's largest network of Catholic journalists and editors
Laotian Catholics honor their ancestors
Laotian Catholics honor their ancestors
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All Souls’ Day is a good time for family members to gather and share stories, said Vinad Phasixiengmay as he cleaned his ancestors’ graves. The 54-year-old Catholic explained that many villagers have left their home over the years to look for work in big towns and in neighboring Thailand. But they always come back for this occasion. Another villager, Leuam Phimmason, says she always visits her dead relatives’ graves even if it’s not All Souls’ Day. “I pray to them to protect me and our family…I believe they are interceding for us,” the 40-year-old woman added. Although All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day fall on Nov. 1 and 2 respectively, villagers like Vinad and Leuam of Ban Xieng Vang in Khammouan province celebrated both the following Sunday, Nov. 7, when around 100 former villagers came back from other parts of the country and from Thailand. For some 500 Catholic villagers about 30 kilometers south of Thakhek, south central Laos, it was a yearly opportunity to reunite with family members while remembering their dear departed. “In Laos, the extended family is important. That is why we take this occasion to meet, share stories and celebrate,” Vinad added. During the Nov. 7 celebration, Father Somdeth Kaleuan read out a list of names of the dead during Mass at the village’s St. Joachim Church. He then led the villagers to the cemetery to bless the graves. “The ceremony reminds us of the inevitability of our own deaths, sooner or later,” the priest said. The Catholic Church traditionally honors the dear departed during the month of November. Related reports Millions of Filipinos flock to honor their dead Catholic village of former outcasts keeps faith amid daily struggles LA11908.1627

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