He was there!

Gahswin attended the All Saints Vigil at the Dominican House of Studies last night, and reports.

The invitation letter warned us to get there early. I showed up (with some friends) at a little after 7:00. The chapel was already packed. We managed to find seats, separated, in a corner just outside the choir. (At the end of the service, I noticed that there were people filling the corridor outside. I'd say several hundred attended, but I'm notoriously poor at estimating such things). And overall, what a young crowd! (Of course, Catholic U. is just across the street ...) And young nuns and young priests! Several Dominicans (to be expected!), also several Missionaries of Charity, their blue-bordered saris flowing out from underneath sweaters. And others I didn't recognize.

Comments

[Therese]

I had the privilege of being there, too and there's only one word for it: beautiful. I'd estimate there were at least 300 people there.

In addition to the Dominicans and MCs, some of the other religious women there were the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara (they have gray habits with blue scapulars) and the Sisters of Mercy.

[Therese]

I had the privilege of being there, too and there's only one word for it: beautiful. I'd estimate there were at least 300 people there.

In addition to the Dominicans and MCs, some of the other religious women there were the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara (they have gray habits with blue scapulars) and the Sisters of Mercy.

[Jeffrey]

I was there as well. My guess would be around 500, with at least 50 of those being priests and religious.

[Old Zhou]

Mrs. Zhou and I went to the Western edition, at St. Albert Priory in Oakland.

There were, I would guess, about 30 or 40 members of the local Dominican community present, and about 10 or 15 sisters of various sorts from around the world attending the School of Applied Theology, and some number of other visitors (including us). It was nice to see so many young Dominicans--I believe five will be ordained to the priesthood next year.

The Vigil of All Saints was beautiful, including chanting of Psalms 8, 15 and 16, followed by five readings (Book of Revelation, Life osf St. Dorothy, St. Bonaventure on the Life of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, diary of Blessed Charles de Foucauld, and the Gospel), followed by a homily about the call to holiness, and holiness producing charity. Then chanted Te Deum, and Compline (chanted Psalms 4 and 134, reading, responsory, Nun Dimmitus. Then a really, really long Litany of the Saints (with a lot of Domincan Saints and Blesseds). Then Veneration of Relecs of the Saints.

Then, Party! A lovely time of food and drink in the Priory recreation room, including sitting around an outdoor fire.

After two hours at the Priory, it was time for us to catch the train home. In about 20 minutes we go the 9am Mass at the parish, definitely enriched by the Vigil with the Dominicans last night!

Probably the best Halloween I've had in forty years.

[Br. Francis de Sales, OP]

I am a student brother at the Dominican House of Studies. We student brothers host this event every year. It's a lot of work but we enjoy doing it. It's great having so many young Catholics as our guests! I think it's good to come together, as lay and religious, worshipping in a way that captures a little slice of what a more Catholic culture can/should be like.

Personally, I especially love chanting the Litany of the Saints in the cloister hall with hundreds of fervent people. At the end of the service everyone processes, with lit candles, from the chapel into the darkened priory hallway adjoining it (where we have a reliquary cabinet with about 300 relics) and lines up on either side, filling the hall with life and candlelight. We use a specially extended list for this litany (you know, you can add Saints' names with particular meaning for you but are not given in the standard litany--as long as they are canonized Saints or Blesseds). The hallway has a very high ceiling and has a marble floor so it is a "live" space where sound reverberates nicely. It is a somewhat mysterious and also somehow intimate experience; voices raised together in the flickering light, echoing through the darkened halls, joining our hearts to the living communion of saints and thus sharing in the expansive love that our brothers and sisters now in heaven have for God.

A few people have estimated the number who attended. By our estimation (judging by the number of programs disbursed) we had at least 500 guests.

Thanks to all who came! And happy Feast of All Saints.

[T. Chan]

Mr. Zhou, if you don't mind my asking, where in CA do you live?

[Old Zhou]

Dear T. Chan,

I live within a 50 mile radius of the Cathedral in San Francisco, in the Diocese of Oakland. Long ago was a student in Berkeley (long enough that I taught students to program PDP-8's by flipping switches and pushing buttons).