…Says Souls in Purgatory Need Constant Prayers
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, on Monday, 2nd November, 2026, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka, during the commemoration of the All Souls’ Day, enjoined Christians to pray constantly for the souls in purgatory, exhorting them to strive to lead a Christlike life so as to stand a chance of gaining eternity.
Bishop Ezeokafor who stated this while celebrating the Mass to mark the Day, reminded Christians of the inevitability of death, adding that one day, they would all be dead and buried.
Fides reports that All Souls Day, observed every November 2, marks a day for commemorating all the faithful departed, those baptized Christians who are believed to be in purgatory because they died with the guilt of lesser sins on their souls.
In Roman Catholic doctrine, requiem Masses are commonly held, and many people visit and sometimes decorate the graves of loved ones to mark the day.
According to Bishop Ezeokafor, the Mass was to remember those in purgatory through intercession of prayers and preparing those on earth with the various commandments of God to shun material things of the world that would not lead them to eternal life.
The Catholic Prelate noted that most Christians acknowledged that all would account for their stewardship on earth which clearly identified the existence of hell and heaven and as such all should be encouraged in all their good deeds.
The commemoration featured prayers of the faithful on earth to help cleanse the souls of the departed to fit into their vision of God in heaven.
The concelebrated Holy Mass which was presided over by Bishop Ezeokafor, took place at the Priests’ Graveyard located inside St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka and witnessed the heavy presence of the clergy, government functionaries and parishioners, among others.
