Confraternity for Holy Souls

Through the formation of Confraternity chapters in Families of Parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Detroit, I hope that the Church of Detroit will develop an active community of intercessors praying regularly for the souls in purgatory.

— The Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron

Every soul should have the opportunity to enter heaven. This is the basic message of the Gospel (Mt 28:17-20; Col 3:1-3). The mission and intention are to pray for the souls in purgatory as a vocation and mission of mercy to relieve and gain release for the suffering souls in Purgatory who can no longer help themselves.

In A Call to Prayer: A Pastoral Note on Praying for the Souls in Purgatory, Archbishop Vigneron calls for the entire Archdiocese to pray for the souls in purgatory by forming chapters of a Confraternity for Holy Souls in each Family of Parishes. It is through the work and ministry of these chapters that we hope that our local Church in southeast Michigan will grow into an active community of intercessors praying regularly for the souls in purgatory.

The intention of the Confraternity for Holy Souls is to help the faithful:

  • Know and understand how to pray for the souls in purgatory.
  • Know and understand the Church’s teaching on indulgences.
  • The Four Last Things (Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell).
  • Offer guidance in offering prayers, Masses, the exercise of indulgences, and the understanding of the doctrine of suffering associated with the souls in purgatory, an incomplete suffering.
  • Establish monthly Holy Hours for the Holy Souls every first Friday.