Candlelight memorials span communities, faiths

Several communities are organizing candlelit gatherings to remember loved ones and bring people together. East Rand Palliative Care in South Africa will host its annual remembrance event with music and a family picnic, with proceeds supporting its care programs. In Rome, a candlelight procession at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major will pray for peace and for people suffering from war and violence. In San Diego’s Sherman Heights, the Día de Muertos procession will invite residents to walk among neighborhood altars and celebrate cultural traditions. A church in Spalding, England, will hold a memorial service where names of the dead are read and attendees can light candles and share messages.