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"Enrollments," which were totally unknown to me, read as follows:
This certifies that enrollment of J. G. has been recorded for 15 years. The
following blessings are bestowed: one mass is offered each day for
members, in addition a special mass is celebrated every 1st Saturday of the
month and of all feasts of our Lord and our Blessed Mother. All members
share a special remembrance in the holy masses. holy communions and
rosaries of the Marian fathers and brothers, and in the continuous novena
to Divine Mercy. Enrolled by Enright Memorial School (school of 5..
Joseph's, SI. Mary's Bay).!
In Tilting and other Catholic communities, practically all women belong to the "Altar
Society;" they organize the cleaning of the church on a shared basis as well as fUlldraising
activites in support of the parish. The members' fee is a quarter a month; to my ironical
question as 10 what benefit this covered, the not so ironical reply was: "you gel a mass
when you die."2 Masses for the dead strictly belong to Catholic tradition; instead of mass
cards, wake visitors in Anglican tradition offer commercially·bought symp.lthy cards,
which are likewise presented on an ad hex:: plate placed in the funeral parlour reposing room
where the deceased is being waked.
The proximity of Ihe earliesl graveyards to outpon communities was a constant
reminder of Ihe dead. The "modem" cemetery in Tilting lies a few yards away from Ihe
ro..1d; Ihis place, which was elected for its relatively "dry" soil, I realized, maintained daily
"interaction" with the community dead. I was once sharing a ride with IWO widows whose
husbands are buried in this cemetery, and they were carrying on a lively conversation. On
passing the cemetery, all passengers signed themselves, including the driver who was
about my age, while the widows together interrupted their talk to quickly lIlIer: "may the
souls of the faithful depaned to the mercy of God rest in peace.")
The liturgical feast of "All Souls" (2 Nov.) was introduced to channel all belief relating
to the supernatural world visiting the eanh of the living around the same date of the
"pagan" calendar:
IP: Is there anything done on All Souls' Day?
I This particular enrollment was offered by the school in which the widow's son was
teaching. and was bought for fifteen dollars collectively contributed by the starf. MUNFLA
87-l59/CI2041.
2From personal fieldnotes.
) From personal fieldnotcs.