‘Death is not the end’

St. Francis of Assisi holds 10th annual Mass of Remembrance

Ninety white candles glowed on the steps of the altar inside Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Oklahoma City, each placed to remember someone lost to suicide, presenting a powerful element to the 10th annual Mass of Remembrance held on Sept. 11

The candles remained lit throughout the weekend Masses.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The Mass of Remembrance is typically celebrated on the Friday nearest the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows (Sept. 15). The Mass booklets featured the painting Pietà by William-Adolphe Bouguereau on the cover. Ushers in blue ribbons handed out candles, booklets and, when needed, tissues. 

The prelude was "Going Home" by Antonin Dvořàk. The Gospel reading for the Mass was John 19:25-27: 

“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.”

Linking the succeeding memorial day and the reason for the Mass of Remembrance, Father John Paul Lewis, pastor at Saint Francis, said, “Like Our Blessed Mother, the Church will always accompany those who are in most need of help, and I see men and women every day who are eager to help lift others up and carry their burdens with them. It’s that kind of support and relationship that helps people to have hope and to walk in the light of faith in God’s love and mercy.”

Archbishop Coakley addressed the congregation at the beginning, saying that this was also a “Mass of Hope.” His homily made the connection between the 25th anniversary of 9/11, another day of remembrance, and this Mass. 

“It was a day like no other day of darkness. And we're still living with the effects of that day. And yet for those of us who believe, it was not the end,” he said. 

Archbishop Coakley talked about the comfort of sharing in grief and in hope together and ended with a note on the resurrection, “death is not the end.” 

The first Mass of Remembrance began with Monsignor William Novak's initiative in 2017 when he was pastor at Saint Francis of Assisi, after a parishioner, Denise Short, lost her son to suicide in 2014. 

“I was honored to support and help coordinate the preparation and networking efforts to get the word out,” Short said. 

When Monsignor Novak was assigned to Saint John the Baptist in Edmond in 2023, Father John Paul Lewis accepted the continuance of this service for the parish. It remains the only Mass dedicated to those lost to suicide in the archdiocese and one of the only Masses of Remembrance in the country. 

The parish leads a monthly peer-led suicide loss support group for anyone interested. The Hope & Healing Suicide Loss Support group meets every third Tuesday evening. For people who have not attended before, they can call the parish office at (405) 528-0485 for detailed information. 

Olivia Dailey is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.

Photo: (Top)  Archbishop Coakley celebrated the 10th annual Mass of Remembrance on Sept. 11 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Oklahoma City. The Mass was in remembrance of people lost to suicide; for people of all faiths who have experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide; and for anyone who wished to provide support. A reception followed Mass. Photos Chris Porter/Sooner Catholic.

Archbishop Coakley prayed with altar servers, Fr. John Paul Lewis and Dcn. John Harned before the Mass of Remembrance. 
Fr. John Paul Lewis comforted an attendee on Sept. 11 after the Mass of Remembrance.