Diocesan Hispanic Office honors Mexican Day of the Dead

Intermountain Catholic

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Día de Los Muertos – the Mexican Day of the Dead – is celebrated annually on All Souls Day. Outside the Diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry in the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Salt Lake City, Maria-Cruz Gray, director, and her staff and volunteers assembled the traditional Day of the Dead altar (above, left). Filled with symbols both secular and religious that honor the memory of those who have died over the past year, the altar and the area surrounding it are dressed with figures, crosses, candles, food, and candies, all in groups of three, representing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Gray told the Intermountain Catholic. Above right is a separate altar dedicated to the many women of Juarez, Mexico, who have died violently or disappeared over the past year. A sign on the altar reads "We deserved to have lived without violence," in Spanish and English. The violence being perpetrated against women in the Juarez area is both frightening and mysterious. "In my opinion, women are being targeted because making victims of women creates chaos and fear in that society," Gray said. Día de Los Muertos celebrations often take place at the grave sites of loved ones and include a hearty meal enjoyed by the living, dancing, storytelling, and prayer. Memories are shared and the dead’s most distinct characteristics are celebrated. IC photos by Barbara S. Lee