GEORGE TOWN: The Kelawai Road Catholic Cemetery here in Pulau Tikus today was a sea of flowers and candles for All Souls' Day.
Ahead of the blessing of the graves and columbarium niches, the flowers were placed and candles lit, as symbolic acts to remember all those who have died, and especially those with unmarked graves and no family to visit.
"I always find All Souls' Day a beautiful time to remember people who have gone ahead of us," Church of the Immaculate Conception, Penang parish priest Reverend Father Jude Miranda said.
"This Feast of All Souls, is timely for us to acknowledge in thanksgiving, the wonderful acts of the departed, and to hold on to our faith that we will always remain connected in prayer," he added.
Father Miranda was joined by assistant parish priest Reverend Father Simon Labrooy and other priests on Penang island, to bless the graves and niches at the cemetery in Pulau Tikus, after which they proceeded to bless the Roman Catholic graves and niches at the Western Road Cemetery.
All Souls' Day, also known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed and the Day of the Dead, is a day of prayer and remembrance for the souls of those who have died, observed by Christians globally on Nov 2.
"The masses at our parish today are offered for all the departed souls who are either buried or interred at the Kelawai Road cemetery," Father Miranda added.
The Kelawei Road private cemetery's heritage value is not limited only to the 211-year old Church of the Immaculate Conception, but is symbolic of the pioneering evangelisation efforts of the Catholic Church in general.
One spot on the grounds of the cemetery, is marked by a cenotaph which served as the first "Tent-Church" of the Immaculate Conception, and graves were initially positioned around it.