You Are Their Hope

The faithful have been urged to use the month of November to pray for the souls of their departed family members, friends, and community members.

The call was made by Rev. Fr. Joseph Kavuma during the monthly Divine Mercy Retreat held at Munyonyo Basilica on Saturday, November 1, 2025.

Fr. Kavuma reminded the congregation that there is a deep connection between the Pilgrim Church (the living), the Church in Purgatory (the departed souls), and the Church in Heaven (the Saints).

He explained that those in purgatory cannot pray for themselves but rely on the prayers and sacrifices of the living to obtain God’s mercy and enter heaven. “We, as members of the pilgrim church, have a responsibility to intercede for them,” he said.

Fr. Kavuma encouraged the faithful to offer Masses for the souls of the departed by writing their names to be presented at the altar. He also advised those who can to invite priests to their homes to celebrate Mass for their deceased loved ones.

He further reminded Christians not to limit prayers for the souls in purgatory to November alone, but to do so regularly, through the Holy Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and the Holy Mass.

Quoting entries from the Diary of St. Faustina, Fr. Kavuma emphasised the importance of praying for the souls of priests and religious, noting that they too need purification before entering heaven.

During the concluding Mass on All Saints’ Day, Fr. Kavuma invited the faithful to make friends with the Saints:

“Each of us should have at least one Saint as a friend. Talk to them about your struggles and ask for their intercession; they will not abandon you,” he said.

“I made St. Jude Thaddeus my friend when I struggled with school fees in the seminary, and he is still my friend today. St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus also helped me greatly when I was recovering from an accident. I asked her to pray that I would not feel pain as doctors treated my wounds, and indeed, I felt none.”

Reflecting on the Gospel of the day about the Beatitudes, Fr. Kavuma explained that “poor in spirit” does not refer to material poverty but to recognising that everything we have belongs to God. He encouraged the faithful to use their blessings to help others and to pray for the souls in purgatory, “who have no possessions at all.”

At Munyonyo Basilica, the faithful are invited to continue offering Masses for their departed loved ones by submitting their names to be read before every Mass. They are also encouraged to obtain indulgences for the souls in purgatory by fulfilling the required conditions: receiving Holy Communion, praying for the intentions of the Holy Father, and visiting a cemetery.

The church marked the Day of All Souls on Sunday, 2^nd November.