OCCF CEMETERY VISITATION FOR PLENARY INDULGENCE (NOVEMBER, 2023)

 

Below are the photos describing the visit to the cemetery by our members from different geographical regions.

The visitation was aimed at obtaining a plenary indulgence for oneself and for the souls in purgatory.

May the good Lord continually bless and reward all those who have prayed for the dead during this period and particularly our members who have gone extra miles in visiting the cemetery, to obtain Plenary Indulgence for themselves and for the souls of the Faithful departed in purgatory. May y'all continually have intercessors praying for you at the hour of your own death and afterwards, Amen.

Group 1: Ejigbo, Okota, Isolo, Ikotun and environs.

Cemetery Visited: Oke-Afa Mass Burial Site.

Time of Visits: Thursday, Saturday and Sunday between 1pm to 9pm.

Experience: We split ourselves into groups for convenience.

Some groups were let into the cemetery while others said their prayers outside the cemetery just by the gate.

It was a good experience. We had passersby join us who were Catholics and we were fortunate to have the secretary and council member of OCCF present, who introduced the forum OCCF to everyone present, taking notes of those interested in joining the main platform.

The only challenge we had was deciding when and what time to visit, else everything went well.

Prayer: The Marian rosary, The divine mercy prayer, The divine office prayer (as stipulated in the OCCF pamphlet), other prayers/intercession and Angelus.

Group 2: Ajah, Lekki, Etiosa and environs

Cemetery Locations: VGC Mayfair Garden cemetery, Awoyaya, and Atan Cemetery, Yaba.

Days of Visits: Saturday 4th, Sunday 5th and Wednesday 8th November 2023.

Experience: Solemn, humbling and awesome. No challenges faced except for agreement on logistics.

Prayers: OCCF Divine office, Rosary - Glorious Mystery, Litany of the Faithful departed, Psalm 129 and Prayer of St. Gertrude for souls in purgatory.

Group 4 (Part 1)

Cemetery Visited: Amukoko Cemetery.

Date of Visit: Saturday, 4th November, 2023.

Report/Experience: The visitation was carried out by 6 members at Amukoko cemetery. We began at exactly 11:30am and ended our visit at exactly 12:30pm.

Prayer: the rosary, hymns, office of the divine mercy as well as office of the dead.

Group 4 (Part 2)

Cemetery Visited: Atan cemetery.

Day of Visit: Sunday, 5th November, 2023.

Report/Experience: The visitation was carried out by 2 members. We began at exactly 3:45pm. The cemetery attendants were friendly with us. We ended our visit at exactly 4:45pm.

Prayers: The rosary, the office of the divine mercy as well as office of the dead.

Group 5: Ojo Cantonment, Festac, Amuwo-odofin axis

Location: Ojo barracks Cantonment Cemetery, Ojo Lasu/Isheri road Lagos State, Nigeria

Date: 4th November, 2023

Time: 9:00am

Prayers: The Holy Rosary, The chaplet of Divine mercy, Office of the dead. 

Experience: It was solemn.

 

Group 6: Iba, Ifako ijaiye, Alabgado, Ijaye Ojokoro, Alukoko and environs

Cemetery Visited: Oke-Afa mass burial site.

Visitation day: 2nd November, 2023.

Time: 2:30pm

Prayers/Activities: Prayers/hymns as it was sent to my phone by our OCCF spiritual director. A woman joined me briefly as I was there.

Experience: it was quite a solemn experience..By God's grace next year I will join Isolo/Oke-Afa group and go with them as a group of people.

Group 7: Ikeja Cantonment, Ojodu and environs.

Cemetery Visited: Atan Cemetery, Yaba and Omega Memorial Gardens, Ojodu.

Day of Visit: Sunday, 5th November, 2023.

Report/Experience: We visited Atan cemetery at Yaba and Omega Memorial garden, Ojodu as different groups and different times. At Atan cemetery, we left the cemetery at 10:37am and the security guards were friendly with us, they only asked us if we are from Catholic church, as only catholics come there to pray.

At Omega gardens cemetery the kids joined us. All the prayers assigned (Rosary, Divine Mercy chaplet and office of the dead were said. The security men didn't allow us into the cemetery at all. They said entrance is strictly for family members of the dead. But we made do with what we could.

We couldn't take any photograph because my phone's camera is bad, besides, as soon as we concluded the prayers it started raining, we had to quickly move.

Prayers: We started with Holy Rosary, followed by chaplet of divine mercy and concluded with the office of the dead, then praises and closing prayers.

We give God the glory for graces received.

Group 8: Ikorodu, Lagos

Cemetery Visited: Igbogbo Cemetery, Ikorodu and Odogunyan Cemetery, Lagos State. 

Date: Tuesday, 7th and Wednesday, 8th November, 2023, respectively.

Prayer: At Igbogbo cemetery, we began with hymns at 11:10am. While at Odogunyan we began at 6:39pm 8th November.

We prayed the Holy Rosary/Litany, Chaplet of Divine mercy, Office for the Dead and concluded with the Angelus at 12:13PM.

Experience: it was solemn.

Group 9: Yaba

Cemetery Visited: Atan Cemetery, Unilag Road, off Herbert Macaulay Street.

Date/Time: 4pm on 2nd Nov 2023; 4:30pm on Nov 3, 2023 and 11am on 6th Nov 2023.

Report/Experience: it was solemn. In the morning, we had the exercise together with other groups (such as purgatorial society of St. Raphael and St. Agnes)

Prayers: The Holy rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the office of the dead.

Group 11: Abuja

Group 11 (Set A)

Cemetery Visited: Gudu Cemetery

Date/Time: Friday, 3rd November, 2023 by 11am 

Report/Experience: prayers started by 12pm with two members Sis. Prisca and Dr. Jane. The visitation went well. We had no issues with the security guard.

Prayers: Rosary, Chaplet of divine mercy, Office of the dead, Short reflection.

Group 11 (Set B)

Cemetery Visited: Nyanya Christian Cemetery.

Date/Time: 4th November, 2023 between 1:50-2:15pm.

Report/Experience: We were 8 in number (two males and 6 females). We had no issue with the cemetery guards.

Prayers: Rosary, Chaplet of divine mercy, Office of the dead and a short reflection.

Group 14: Anambra

Cemetery Visited: Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Graveyard, Church and Compound.

Date of Visitation: 2nd November, 2023 and 4th November, 2023.

Time: 10:30am and 12:15pm respectively.

Prayers: Prayers/hymns as it was sent to my phone by our OCCF spiritual director. 

Report/Experience: It was quite a solemn experience. The visit to the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha and the graveside where priests and missionaries were buried, was worth it. Also, inside the church has a shrine where the remains/relics of Blessed Iwene Tansi is kept, as well as burial slabs of ArchBishop Heerey, Bishop Shanahan, Archbishop Ezeanya and ArchBishop Obiefuna. I was at the Basilica on All Souls Day (2nd November) and on the 4th of November, 2023, to pray for the departed souls in purgatory and request for plenary indulgence. The prayer manual was used.

Group 15: Makurdi

Cemetery Visited: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral Cemetery, Makurdi. 

Date/Time of Visit: Thursday, 2nd November, 2023 by 6pm after Mass.

Prayers: The group prayed together and said the OCCF prayer for the dead given by the Spiritual Director. 

Report/Experience: We were excited coming together and knowing ourselves, we exchange pleasantries and this gave us the opportunity of having a meeting, we finally decided to be having our monthly meeting on 1st Wednesday of every month.

Group 16: Asaba, Delta State.

Cemetery Visited: St. Joseph Pro Cathedral.

 Day of Visit: Saturday, 4th November, 2023.

Time of Visit: 3pm

Prayers: Divine Mercy, 5 decades of the Holy Rosary (Joyful mystery) and Office of the dead as sent in the forum.

Report/Experience: it was a great outing. I didn't take time to go through the instructions. Agreeing to a particular time wasn't easy for the group at first but somehow or miraculously half of us agreed Saturday, 4th November by 3pm. It's divinely fixed because I later came to discover that 3pm was actually recommended.

I started the prayers without knowing that divine mercy and rosary was highly recommended. After the prayers, back at home, I decided to go through what was sent again and I suddenly discovered that the group was actually led by the spirit in all her decisions and prayers and I was indeed very glad. It was awesome. Ave!

Group 17: Esan central, Esan West, Owan East, Edo State.

Cemetery Location: St. Benedict Monastery Ewu, Edo State.

Date of Visit: 2nd November, 2023.

Report/Experience: immediately after the 12pm Mass, we started the prayers at the cemetery. It was unique. There was a conducive weather and environment. Only two people were in attendance.

Prayers: Chaplet of divine mercy and Office of the dead.

Group 18: Benin city, GRA and environs

Cemetery Visited: St. Paul Minor Seminary Cemetery, Holy Cross Cathedral Cemetery, Private Graveyards, e.t.c.

Date/Time of Visits: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, (2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th November) between 10am to 5pm.

Report/Experience: we went in subgroups due to convenience. Some groups went in the morning while others visited at noon time and evening as well. The Priests' cemetery at St. Paul, was opened for all without any restrictions and it was an awesome and solemn experience for us. 

This visitation attracted other persons who took interest in joining us and were given orientation about OCCF and what we represent. I am glad to report that four of them have joined our main platform (Group 1) already. 

The challenge of having conflict dates and time ended up well and made our visitation unique with everyone participating willingly. The visitation was carried out by 20 people.

Prayers: Rosary/Litany, the Divine Mercy Prayer, Office of the Dead as stipulated in the OCCF guide provided by the Spiritual Director, Scriptural reading, a short reflection and intercessory prayers.

Group 19: Edo State

Cemetery Visited: St. Philip Neri Catholic Cemetery, Jattu and Catholic Cemetery Iraokhor.

Date of Visit: 8th November, 2023.

Experience: it was Solemn. The gate at St. Philip Neri Cemetery was locked so we prayed from outside.

Prayer: OCCF prayers for the dead.

Group 21: Enugu

Date of Visit: 2nd and 5th November, 2023.

Cemetery Visited: Holy Ghost Cemetery, Enugu.

Report/Experience: we started with an opening mass with our Lordship, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu, Bishop Onaga 12pm.

It was overwhelming, wonderful, fulfilling and solemn. It was a beautiful All Souls Day. We assembled at our grotto before proceeding to the cemetery. We used the only available cemetery here, which is Holy Ghost cemetery. It is a graveyard for priests. When we finished our prayers, we also went to our Late Bishop's tomb, Late Bishop Okoye to pray. He was buried inside the Cathedral. The picture also was captured. It was a wonderful outing and we feel happy because we believe that we have relieved many souls by His grace. We encountered no challenges. 4 members were present– two went on the 2nd of November and the other two went on the 5th.

Prayers: opening prayers at the gate of the cemetery, the complete office of the dead, short prayers at each grave and prayers in our Late Bishop's tomb, situated inside the Cathedral.

Group 22: Imo State

Cemetery Location: Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri, Imo State.

Date of Visit: 2nd and 8th November.

Prayers: Rosary, Divine Mercy and Intercessory prayers.

May the souls of all the faithful departed through the Mercy of God rest in peace, Amen 🙏

Group 25: Rivers State

Cemetery Visited: Philips Obrikom Cemetery, Onelga, Rivers State and Catholic Cemetery for Clergy, Rumuebeikwe, Seminary.

Date/Time: Thursday, 2nd November, 2023, 12pm; 4th November, 2pm and 8th November, 10am.

Experience: On the 2nd of Nov being the day of the commemoration of All Souls, there was a mass at the cemetery celebrated by His Lordship, Bishop Patrick Eluke, the Auxiliary Bishop of Port-harcourt, which some of us attended.

For a few, it was the first time gathering to observe this solemn prayer, while others, appreciative of the development, gave kudos to the organizers.

On one of the visits, a testimony of a personal experience before and after the 2022 cemetery visitation was shared, with a resolve to always participate in subsequent visitations if God wills it. In all, it was a spirit filled outing.

Prayers: the Rosary, the Divine Mercy prayers and Office of the dead. Hymns were also incorporated, with room for short reflections and personal prayers for the departed.

Group 27: U.S.A

Cemetery Visited: Sharon Hills Odd Fellows Cemetery, Camden Wyoming, Delaware.

Date of Visit: 4th November, 2023.  

Report/Experience: it was very fulfilling.

Prayers: 5 decades of the rosary, Divine Mercy Prayer and the complete Office of the dead.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen.

Group 28: Liberia

Cemetery Visited: Bishops' resting place, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Monrovia, Liberia.

Date/Time: 2nd November, 2023.

Report/Experience: OCCF Cemetery visitation was done by the group. After attending morning mass in my parish, we went on to meet a brother who registered officially for the visitation. There, I met 2 OCCF members attending their parish retreat and we prayed together at 2pm. it was spirit filled and after the prayers we received the testimony of God saving my sister and her husband from a ghastly accident.

Prayers: The Holy rosary, the Divine Mercy Prayer and the office of the dead.

Group 30: Niger State

Cemetery Visited: Cemetery at St. Michael Cathedral, Minna, Niger State.

Date of Visit: 2nd November, 2023.

Report/Experience: I attended at 6am, after which I visited the resting place of our departed brothers and sisters (Priests and Religious) at the Cathedral. The prayers started at about 7:50am.

Prayers: the Rosary and the Office of the dead as directed by our Spiritual Director.

Group 31: Abeokuta, Ogun State

Cemetery Visited: Ss. Peter & Paul Cathedral Cemetery, Itesi, Abeokuta.

Date/Time: 4th November, 5pm and 6th November, 3:45pm.

Report/Experience: The visit was solemn.

Prayers: OCCF stipulated prayers- Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy and office of the dead.

Group 32: Jos, Plateau State

Cemetery Visited: Zaria Road Cemetery.

Date/time: 8th November, 5pm.

Experience: I alone in group of 3 persons visited the Zaria road cemetery. It was not convenient for the other members of the group to join me. The place was quite lonely.

Prayers: OCCF stipulated prayers for the dead.

We look forward to another more collaborative visit next year.