Day of the Dead celebration to be held Nov. 1-2
A Memorial Arch from Faith and Grief Ministries will make its first appearance in Fort Stockton adjacent to the Day of the Dead Ofrenda/ Alter, which will be at the porch of the old Original Café on First Street behind Fort Stockton Community Theatre, Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 1-2.
The Arch is provided by St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church of Fort Stockton, but members of other congregations will be present at the Arch from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Nov. 1 and 2, to encourage people to write the names on a ribbon of loved ones who have passed and tie it onto the Arch. People are encouraged to write the names of family members and friends on as many ribbons as they choose. Much like the Ofrenda, this is a tangible, visual reminder of people who have died and are missed. The ribbons show that memories of those who have died are shared by people across all beliefs and all backgrounds.
Fr. Mike Wallens from St Stephens Episcopal Church will conduct services on Tuesday, November 1at 7:00 p.m. in front of the Ofrenda and Memorial Arch. On Wednesday, Nov. 2, Fr. Njoku Francis will conduct services at 8:00 p.m. that will include a rosary.
Faith and Grief Ministries was begun in 2007 to provide opportunities for comfort and hope to those who have experienced the death of a loved one. The Memorial Arch began in Dallas in 2016 as the Community Tree of Remembrance in response to the Dallas sniper shooting that resulted in five first responders’ deaths.
If you would like to stay awhile at the Arch from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov.1-2, to help hand out ribbons, please contact Alice Duerksen at 3363180 to volunteer. If you don’t have long to stay, at least stop by the Arch and the adjacent Ofrenda/ Alter and tie on a ribbon onto the Arch; bring a picture of a loved one for the Ofrenda; share a memory; tell a story.
The Ofrenda/Alter and Memorial Arch is a collaborative effort by Olga Gonzalez, Laura Jean Gonzalez, JB Gallegos, Alice Duerksen, St. Stephens Episcopal Church and Heritage Funeral Home of the Big Bend.
