Taking Back All Hallows’ Eve in Baltimore: Vigil of All Saints
October 31, 2014
The Dominican Parish of Ss. Philip and James in Baltimore, MD, is getting some well deserved attention for their Vigil of All Saints on October 31, at 7:30pm. Catholic Review, the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s news outlet ran a story covering the Halloween night event. The article quotes Fr. John Paul Walker, OP, who discusses the significance of the evening and the event: “[Halloween has] just become a completely secularized celebration of ghosts and goblins and scary things. I think that’s a shame,” he said. “I feel very strongly that this night belongs to us. It’s meant to be a night that honors the saints.” He added: “It (the vigil) is our way of taking back Halloween for its more original, Catholic origin – an evening in which we wait in vigil, we gather in prayer waiting for Nov. 1, which is truly the church’s incredible celebration of all the saints in our life.” The Vigil of All Saints will include readings from St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bl. Margaret of Castello, St. John Paul II, and Bl. Miriam Teresa Demjanovich. It also includesCompline (Night Prayer), preaching, and a candlelight procession during the Litany of the Saints. The format is almost identical to the Vigil of All Saints at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC, which is no surprise since Fr. John Paul, when he was a student brother, was instrumental in bringing the Vigil to the House of Studies. The Vigil is in its third year at Ss. Philip and James in Baltimore.
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