Each year on All Souls' Day, November 2, the University of St. Thomas remembers its alumni, faculty and staff who passed away in the previous academic year. UST’s 2022 Memorial Mass will be held in the Chapel of St. Basil and will be officiated by Fr. Eduardo Rivera, CSB ’14, and Deacon Thad Kudela, M.A. ’18.  View the names of those who will be celebrated. The Mass will also be streamed on Zoom.

Committee member Frances Escriva notes that “as Catholics we are called to pray for our departed brothers and sisters.  We always have an alumni priest to preside at this Mass. We gather all the names of the departed from the last year in the program; however, we also have a book of Remembrance where we have everyone listed from the past 75 years. Last year the Mass was presided by Rev Thomas Rafferty, '79 who mentioned during his homily that it made him feel good to know that one day when he is gone that there will be someone in the Chapel praying for him.  I think this made all of us feel grateful.

Memorial Mass Committee

Six alumni volunteers, who previously served on the Alumni Board – Betty Fischer BA ’52, MRE ’91, Frances Escriva BA ’78, MBA ‘00, Debbie Amador BA ‘91, Marcia Galatas M.Ed ‘95, Gwen Juarez BA ‘84 and Jacob Dilworth BA ‘18 work throughout the year keeping track of obituaries and updating UST records for this event.

“The Memorial Mass is such a special, alumni led occasion that embodies UST’s catholic heritage and mission,” Amy Youngblood, director of Alumni Relations, said. “Any student, faculty and staff member is blessed to know when they pass away that they will be remembered, honored and prayed for on All Souls' Day by their Alumni Association. What a priceless gift to the families this is as well as to the UST Family!”

Tradition of Day of the Dead or All Souls Day

In many cultures and religious denominations, All Souls' Day, which follows All Saints Day, is commonly known as “Day of the Dead” and is a time to honor and remember our loved ones who have died. All Souls' Day is often celebrated with vigils, candles, the decoration of graves and special prayers as well as regional customs. In the Catholic Tradition, the Church liturgically celebrates the day of the dead and has since early Middle Ages. It began as a day of prayer for all the faithful, departed or deceased, whose souls were in the Purgatory.

“The Day of the Dead or All Souls' Day is deeply rooted in the mystery of the revelation of God and the pious act of mercy manifested through the prayerful intercession of the living for those who are in the ‘purification state,’” Father Dempsey Rosales-Acosta, Theology Associate Professor at UST, said. “This very ancient tradition in the Catholic Church has been enculturated and adapted in many cultures through centuries.”

Memorial Mass and Reception

UST’s Memorial Mass is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 2, 12:20 p.m., in the Chapel of St. Basil on the UST campus.  A reception will follow in Malloy Hall adjacent to the Chapel on the west side. If any names are missing on the Memorial Mass listing please send an email to Matejat@stthom.edu.