On the evening of October 31, 2025, the Sacred Heart Formation House in Cagayan de Oro City joyfully concluded the Month of the Holy Rosary and celebrated the Solemnity of All Saints.

The evening began at 5:45 with the recitation of the Holy Rosary. Following tradition, the seminarians prepared a Rosary made of candles, a touching symbol of light conquering darkness. After each Hail Mary, one candle was lit, forming a glowing chain of prayers around the court. The gentle light from each flame reflected the unity of many hearts praying together, creating an atmosphere of reverence and peace.

After the Rosary was said, the community shared supper on the same court. Everyone felt grateful that the rain—which had fallen almost every day before—finally gave way to a clear evening.

After supper, the celebration continued with the Parade of Saints, one of the highlights of the night. The basketball court, which earlier glowed with candlelight and echoed with prayers, now came alive with color, creativity, and joy as each seminarian chose a favorite saint, dressed like him, and presented the saint’s life and example to the community. From St. Francis of Assisi to St. John Paul II, the saints “returned” for one night through the lives and enthusiasm of their young admirers. It was both a joyful performance and a sincere act of devotion—showing that holiness is not a thing of the past, but a living call for today.

The evening flowed naturally from prayer to fellowship, and from fellowship to witness. It was, in every sense, a night of faith, fraternity, and fun—a celebration of holiness made visible through youthful energy and community spirit.

The Catholic Meaning of Halloween

This beautiful celebration at Sacred Heart Formation House reminds us of something important: the true meaning of October 31 for Catholics. Many people around the world associate this date with Halloween, often celebrated with costumes, ghosts, and images of fear. Yet for Christians, this date has a much deeper and holier meaning. The word “Halloween” comes from “All Hallows’ Eve”—the Vigil of All Saints’ Day—which was originally a night of prayer and preparation for the great feast of all the holy men and women who now live with God.

For Catholics, therefore, Halloween is not a night of darkness, but of light. It reminds us that the saints—the true heroes of faith—triumphed over sin and evil through love and holiness. By celebrating the Parade of Saints, the seminarians of the Sacred Heart Formation House gave this Christian meaning new life. Instead of dressing as monsters or ghosts, they chose to honor those who radiated Christ’s love in the world. Their celebration became a living bridge between the ancient tradition of honoring the saints and the contemporary need to reclaim this holy night from secular distraction.

As Pope Francis beautifully said in Gaudete et Exsultate: “Holiness is the most attractive face of the Church.” Every Christian is called to be a saint, not by doing extraordinary things, but by living ordinary life with extraordinary love. The Parade of Saints demonstrated this truth powerfully—each seminarian, by embodying a saint’s life and virtues, showed that holiness takes many forms and is accessible to all who seek it with sincere hearts.

Thus, the culmination of the Month of the Rosary and the celebration of All Saints at the Sacred Heart Formation House offered a clear and compelling message: the best way to celebrate “Halloween” is to let the light of holiness shine. Like the candles lit during the Rosary that evening, our faith, when shared and lived with joy, brightens even the darkest night and points others toward the truth that love is stronger than fear, and life is stronger than death.