Cebu Archbishop urges faithful to reclaim Halloween's spiritual significance

TAGBILARAN CITY—The Archbishop of Cebu has urged Filipino Catholics to reconnect with the spiritual roots of Halloween as the nation approaches the observance of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day this month.

Archbishop Alberto Uy, who leads the country's oldest Catholic community, emphasized that the faithful should move beyond secular celebrations and return to honoring holiness and remembering the deceased during these significant religious occasions.

The appeal comes as Halloween festivities have increasingly become commercialized and detached from their original Christian significance in many communities across the Philippines. The Archbishop's message seeks to refocus attention on the sacred purpose of the season, which traditionally marks a time for spiritual reflection and veneration of saints and the departed.

All Saints' Day on November 1 and All Souls' Day on November 2 hold particular importance in the Catholic calendar, serving as occasions for believers to remember and pray for those who have passed away. The Cebu prelate's call represents the broader Church's effort to preserve the religious character of these observances amid modern cultural shifts.