“Memorial Mass, Thursday, November 1, 2007. We will celebrate our annual Memorial Mass to honor and remember those loved ones we have lost. Join us for reflection and prayer in the church at 7 pm. Music will be provided by the SJA choir. The service will conclude in the Memorial Garden. Hospitality will follow.”

This above quote from the St. Joan of Arc Bulletin passed out each Sunday at the gym masses was all that was needed to bring nearly three hundred parishioners to participate in this lovely annual event. Only this year, there was a change. Now, there is a cemetery that holds several dozen containers of ashes of friends and relatives that have passed away. The garden is located right outside the church and is known as The St. Joan of Arc Memorial Garden.

The SJA Choir and parishioners gathered first in the dimly lit church. Some brought pumpkins delightfully carved with everything from happy faces to crosses and varying creative designs and placed them artistically around the altar. Many parishioners brought photographs of loved ones and placed them on tables, covered with white cloth and with tall candles behind.

Then all were invited to participate in the procession to the Memorial Garden. The bulletin notice had indicated that the service would end with the procession, but instead, it was decided to open the service with this procession to the Garden lit with a fire pot, the Easter candle and pumpkin lanterns.

Everyone who wished to do so, gathered in the faintly lit Garden to listen to Fr. Jim DeBruycker’s welcome and opening prayer followed by a poem composed and read beautifully by Roger Dick. This poem(entire poem) was adapted from the poem Roger had originally written for the dedication of the Memorial Garden earlier in the year. It began:

It seemed an appropriate beginning for this particular evening’s service that began with prayers, poetry and a litany of the saint’s chant sung by the rich and melodious voice of Fr. DeBruycker. As he would cantor the familiar names of saints and relatives, the sound of the close to seventy member choir responded in harmony with the request, “Pray For Us” as all slowly walked back into the church to continue the service.

Our former beloved Pastor, Fr. Harvey Egan’s cremains are buried in this new Memorial Garden. His was but one of many chanted names heard while standing in the semi darkness there. The names and responses continued until all were seated once again in the church. “Harvey Egan”…… “Pray For Us”.

Mass began with Fr. DeBruycker informing the congregation that his father had passed away just the day before and it followed his mother’s death by only a little over a month. It was an emotional moment for him but he mentioned that he was glad to be able to preside at this special mass where he could include in that opening litany, the names of his parents. Indeed it was a humbling moment for all present.

Readings by Dietrich Bonhoefer and Revelations Ch 7: 2-4, 9-14 were read by Prayer Partner members, Joan Riebel, Mark Scannell and Louise Jankowski(right) who with Fr. Jim and Anna Mae Vagle, planned this lovely service.

After the readings, the choir sang a recent Marty Haugen song called, “We Say Yes”. The lyrics to this hymn encompasses all of life’s gifts and celebrations and life calling upon us to respond: “…For all that has been, for Your blessings without number, we offer thanks for You, O God, and for all that shall be for all that is to come, we say yes.. we say yes…”

The Homily consisted of a community response to the Gospel (Matt: 5: 1-12 The Sermon on The Mount). Anyone who wished to participate was invited to share his or her remembrance of the one who had died. These shared remembrances were as varied as they were moving. Many took the microphone to tell all present with great pride about the parent, spouse, relative or friend whose example of how they had lived life had now become his or her rich inheritance.

The mass continued and included one more St. Joan ritual. Each person took a small taper candle, lit it with the flame of the Easter Candle and approached one of the two copper tubs filled with sand. They gave the lighted candle to one of the Prayer Partners who put it into the tub along with many others. The candle bearer spoke aloud the name of their deceased loved one. The appearance of numerous lit candles was as mesmerizing as it was thought provoking – since each light represented a loved one who had not been forgotten and whose love was shining bright this night.

The SJA Choir directed by Anna Mae Vagle and accompanied by Joe Chouinard, performed songs during the lighting of the candles. This music was chosen because of the simplicity of word and melody: “Come and fill our hearts with your peace, You alone, O Lord are holy.. Alleluia”; the simple “Be Still and Know that I am God” and lastly a new song for SJA called, “Gott ist nur Liebe” (translated as “God is Only Love, Dare to give everything for Love. Do not be afraid.” This was sung in the original German by this versatile choir.

The mass chosen was the “Journey Mass” whose words emphasize the journey that we are all on and the path it leads to. The communion song, “Abide With Me” is full of old wisdom, written in 1847.

“Abide with me, fast falls the eventide

The shadows deepen, Lord with me abide,

When other helpers fail and comforts flee

Help of the helpless, O abide with me”

The Memorial Garden, The prayers, special Mass, the ambiance, the candles, the pumpkins, the music, the photos on the tables, the faces of the bereaved in the congregation, the tear-stained faces of some choir members and much more was, for many, what made this the most beautiful Memorial Mass/All Saints Day service that St. Joan of Arc’s Prayer Partners have done.

That was affirmed and heard many times in the Hospitality Hall downstairs afterwards where conversation continued and food and beverage were offered.

This, my friends, is one Mass that I intend never to miss. Watch for it at this same time next year! Remember, we will all have to face that last life’s journey at some time in our lives and the support you will receive under difficult circumstances is invaluable! “Lord, take my hand and lead me home.” - - Priceless!

JoAnn Potts is a retired teacher, music/English/choir director and 35 year member of St. Joan's. She enjoys volunteering to assist Anna Vagle with music tasks one day each week; singing in the choir; writing her memoirs, poetry and SJA web articles; keeping up with family and friends. JoAnn and Jim, husband and wife team of 54 years, are proud of their family of five children and nine grandchildren. Wanna see pictures?  JoAnn can be reached at joannpotts@gmail.com.

Peg LaSota comes from a photography background. She now works in the digital world, computer instruction, and with "videography" and the restoration of family films. She is enthusiastic about capturing family memories and preserving them digitally. Along with that, her time is spent with her family and her love for learning Spanish, piano, recorder.....and of course singing with the choir!