There are very few times during the year when a special celebration takes the place of the Sunday liturgy of the day. The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed or All Souls Day is one of them.

A Diocesan All Souls Mass is planned for Sunday, Nov. 2, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria. Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, will be the celebrant for the 10:30 a.m. liturgy.

The names of those who have died in the last year will be read aloud before Mass. People may submit the names of their loved ones by calling the diocesan Office of Family Life at (309) 671-1550.

In addition, those who attend the Diocesan All Souls Mass will have the opportunity to write the names of their deceased family members and friends in the Book of the Dead, which will be available in the church vestibule before Mass. This book will be brought forward along with the bread and wine during the preparation of the gifts and remain in the cathedral throughout the month of November, according to Jeanne Whalen, director of the diocesan Office of Pastoral Services, a part of the Office of Family Life.

“Usually Sunday is only superseded by very particular feasts of Our Lord and Our Lady,” said Father Stanley Deptula, director of the diocesan Office of Divine Worship. “And yet, All Souls is a very unique liturgical moment, a very unique spiritual moment that we celebrate it when it falls on a Sunday.”

That’s because all Christians have a special responsibility to pray for the dead and this day emphasizes the importance of doing so, he told The Catholic Post.

While the Solemnity of All Saints, Nov. 1, is traditionally a holy day of obligation, attendance at Mass is not required when it falls on a Saturday, as it does this year, or a Monday. It remains a great feast of the church, however, according to Father Deptula.

“We would encourage parishes to celebrate All Saints Day or maybe to get together and have a community celebration,” he said. “If there’s a town where there are multiple parishes, perhaps they could have one big celebration.”

Among the celebrations planned for that day is the First Saturday Mass with Marian devotions for the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, said Father Deptula, who is also executive director of the archbishop’s cause.

“That will take place here at the cathedral in the St. Thomas More Chapel, surrounded by the relics of the diocese,” he said. “It’s a beautiful place to celebrate All Saints.”