BOYNTON BEACH | Officers of the Palm Beach Diocesan Council of Catholic Women gathered Nov. 5, 2025, for their annual Remembrance Tree ceremony at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach to honor their deceased members, family and friends.
The tradition, which began in November 2009, includes celebration of the Eucharist, burning of the year-old scroll containing names of deceased council members and loved ones, replacing it with a new scroll placed in a canister, which is then buried next to the Remembrance Tree on the seminary campus.
The first local Remembrance Tree ceremony occurred Nov. 2, 2009, and Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito has officiated at the commemoration Mass and ceremony every year. The event takes place on All Souls’ Day or the first Wednesday in November. This year’s event coincided with the Jubilee Year of Hope called for by Pope Francis.
“I think this is a fantastic event aside from the fact that it gives us a way to commemorate our beloved dead,” said Lily Potito, president of the diocesan council Southern Deanery. “It gives us the opportunity to be in this great space, where the presence of God is so strongly felt.”
The Remembrance Tree event honors all deceased loved ones, including past council members, said Denise Lamberti, past Southern Deanery president. “It is such a beautiful ceremony, and I enjoy coming here.”
Seminarians are encouraged to pray for the deceased souls at the Remembrance Tree, where there is a silver commemorative plaque honoring the deceased. “It is a great way to remember deceased members, their family and friends,” said Teresa Cecil, diocesan council president. “The money that we collect from donations are used for the seminarians’ emergency fund, not for their education, but for an emergency. They are really grateful for that.”
Co-chairs of the Remembrance Tree event were Lou Ann McDaniel, St. Christopher council recording secretary, and Rita Bryant, St. Rita council parliamentarian. “We started this back in May 2025 just gathering information,” Bryant said.
Bishop Barbarito led the Mass with priests and two other bishops: Auxiliary Bishop Gregg M. Caggianelli of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, who is a former vice rector and professor at the seminary, and Nicaraguan Bishop Silvio José Báez, current seminary professor.
“Death has a hope,” Bishop Barbarito said in his homily. “As we travel together on our pilgrimage of life, it is only a finality for those without hope. Indeed, hope assures us that death will not disappoint.”
“Both Pope Francis and Pope Leo have emphasized that hope is not simply optimism. Hope is not simply optimism by any means. But optimism and a positive outlook are very good qualities which add to the joy of life,” the bishop added. “As we continue in our journey during this Year of Hope, may we never lose sight of what the true meaning of life is based on, and that is our faith, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
After Mass, the bishop, assisted by Hunter Ernde, the seminary’s director of development and public relations, placed the canister with the new scroll into the ground next to the Remembrance Tree. The council women were led in praying an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be to the Father.
For information on the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, visit https://pbdccw.org. To learn about the seminary, go to www.svdp.edu, email info@svdp.edu or call 561-732-4424.
