From Ekklesia: Monks party at Halloween.
The Dominican House of Studies in Washington DC will be making a special effort this year to celebrate Halloween, including organising a service and party, to point to the festival’s Christian roots as All Hallow's Eve.
Instead of trick-or-treating, hundreds will gather with the Dominican religious for the Vigil of the Saints - celebrated on the eve of All Saints' Day.
The vigil centres on readings from the writings and lives of the saints, followed by Gregorian and Russian chant by the Dominican Schola Cantorum. There is also a universal call to holiness, night prayer, and a candlelight procession to the cloister's reliquary while chanting the Litany of the Saints.
Afterward, the 60-some Dominican priests and brothers host a party for their guests.
"I particularly love the idea of giving saints a public ‘voice’ to speak to us today - and it's clearly meeting a need," Dominican Brother Nicholas Lombardo said to the Zenit news agency. "People of all ages, but a lot of young adults particularly, have been drawn to it in a way that has surprised even us." [continue]
Related:
All Saints' Day