Light up the Night, Buffalo!

 In Poland, All Soul's Day is known as Dzien Zaduszny. On this day in Poland everyone wants to be close to those they have loved and cherished and travel long distances from other cities and even other countries to honor their dead. They bring flowers, wreaths and candles to decorate the graves of those who are no longer with them in the flesh but remain in their hearts and memories. They say that there are so many candles lit at the cemeteries in Poland, it becomes so warm that people have to take their coats off on this chilly November night.

Many of us may live far from the cemeteries where our loved one’s sleep in eternal peace. But it doesn’t mean you cannot light a candle in order to have them remembered. St. Casimir’s in Buffalo’s Kaisertown, 160 Cable Street, will be hosting a traditional Polish All Soul’s Day memorial with its “Light Up the Night, Buffalo” on November 1st beginning at 5:30pm. St. Casimir’s invites the community to remember their loved ones on this night with candlelight and prayer intentions.  Large 5-day candles for adults and vigil lights for children will be available for a small donation and can be placed at any one of the 4 altars within the church. Families can write a prayer or a cherished memory to be attached to the candles in remembrance. 

Families are encouraged to bring photos of their dearly departed. There will be a special table set up along the communion rail to honor them.  There will also be an opportunity to have the name of their loved one called out loud in church in the age-old Polish tradition of wypominki. These prayer intentions will be read that night in church but in the case of numerous requests and limited time, all the wypomiki will be continually called throughout the month of November at Sunday masses at St. Casimir’s.

There will also be an anointing of the sick for those who are dealing with a current illness or recovering from one.

The schedule will be as follows.

5:30 Candles, confession, and anointing of the sick

6:30 Wypominki, calling out of names of the departed

7:15  All Saints/Souls' Memorial Mass

8:30 Refreshments  of traditional hot chocolate (+ ground red pepper, if  you like) with soul cakes and for the first time blessed memorial breads

Please join us for “Let’s Light up the Night, Buffalo” with candlelight and prayer.

 "He who lives in the memory of his closest, lives forever,” goes the Polish proverb -- “Kto żyje w pamięci swych bliskich, żyje wiecznie.”  

On this night, the deceased remain alive in the hearts of the living.

-- Article by renowned author, Sophie Hodorowicz Knab.