All Saints’, Día de los Muertos, & All Souls’ at St. Matthew’s
Sunday, November 2, 2025
All Saints’ Commemoration at Holy Eucharist – 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Village Church - 9:15 a.m.
All Souls’ Choral Evensong – 4:00 p.m.
On Sunday, November 2, St. Matthew’s will joyfully observe All Saints’ Day at both the 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. At 9:15 a.m. Village Church will center on Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Later that afternoon, we will gather again in quiet reflection for a Choral Evensong for All Souls’ Day at 4:00 p.m.
Though the three commemorations are closely linked in time and tone, they are distinct in purpose and emphasis.
All Saints’ Day is one of the great festivals of the Church year, typically observed on November 1, though it is a transferable feast day. It is a celebration of the communion of saints, both known and unknown, who have borne witness to Christ in every generation. It is a day of triumph and thanksgiving, when we lift our hearts to the countless faithful who now rest in the nearer presence of God. The liturgy on this day resounds with hope and rejoicing in the promise of resurrection and eternal life.
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a joyful remembrance celebrated on November 1–2, honoring loved ones who have died with vibrant altars (ofrendas), candles, marigolds, photos, and favorite foods. Families gather to share stories, pray, and welcome the presence of their ancestors, often with sugar skulls and pan de muerto as signs of love and continuity. Far from being morbid—or the same as Halloween—it’s a hopeful celebration that affirms life, memory, and the enduring bonds of family and community.
All Souls’ Day, observed on November 2, the day after All Saints’ Day (though, in our case, celebrated the same day)—turns our prayers from the saints in glory to all the departed, especially those we have personally loved and lost. The tone is more contemplative, as we commend the souls of the faithful departed to God’s mercy and remember that love is stronger than death. The Choral Evensong for All Souls offers a sacred space for remembrance, healing, and peace through the beauty of scripture, prayer, music, and the reading of the necrology.
Together, these two observances remind us of the mystical bond that unites the Church on earth with the Church in heaven, a communion of faith, hope, and love that transcends time and space.
We invite all to join us as we give thanks for the saints who have gone before us and as we lovingly remember those who continue to dwell in our hearts.
