March of Saints Celebrates All Saints’ Day at Our Lady of Candelaria Church, Baina
The Catholic Church celebrates 1 November as the Solemnity of All Saints, honouring all the saints who lived lives of holiness and now share in the glory of heaven.
Marking this special occasion, Our Lady of Candelaria Church, Baina–Vasco, organised a unique and meaningful celebration during the Children’s Mass, with catechism children dressed as various saints and making a special entrance into the church in a March of Saints.
The initiative, conceptualised by the catechism teachers, brought the lives and inspiring examples of the saints closer to the children and the parish community. Each child represented a saint, dressed in appropriate attire and introducing the congregation to the inspiring legacy of these holy men and women.
The participating children represented the following saints:
1. Pre-Communion – Master Eaven Lawrence: St. Carlo Acutis
2. Class 1 – Master Shayden Leeshaun Fernandes: St. Francis Xavier
3. Class 2 – Master Isaias Fernandes: St. John Mary Vianney
4. Class 3 – Master Alston Dourado: St. Anthony of Padua
5. Class 4 – Miss Amy Victoria Barreto: St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus
6. Class 5 – Master Ansel Nathan Cabral: St. Padre Pio
7. Class 6 – Master Crisanto Leveson Fernandes: St. Joseph Vaz
8. Class 7 – Miss Samuela Fernandes: St. Teresa of Calcutta
9. Class 8 – Miss Vanea Dourado: St. Agnes
As the young participants entered the church, their portrayal of the saints offered a beautiful visual reminder of the universal call to holiness and the importance of following Christ through faith, love and service.
The March of Saints was warmly appreciated by the congregation and added a special dimension to the All Saints’ Day celebration. It also provided an opportunity for the children to learn about the lives, virtues and contributions of the saints in an engaging and memorable way.
The celebration concluded with a reminder that holiness is not reserved for a chosen few; each one of us is called to become a saint through our everyday words, actions and choices.
“Let us all strive to become saints in our own little ways!”
