Every November 2 on All Souls’ Day, the sacred holiday brings together the island’s faithful to cemeteries, churches and family gatherings to remember the dearly departed.  But the time honored tradition begins days before the actual celebration. Here's a look at this year’s preparations. 

From bush-cutting, scraping, to brushing, with All Souls’ Day just around the corner, island residents are preparing the final resting places of departed loved ones at Guam’s cemeteries. 

Gliseria Olivarez from Dededo shared, "We just came here today because we don’t have much time...we have to pray for them. This is my brother and my parents are over there on that side."

Grounds maintenance crew were hard at work thursday at the Guam Memorial Park in Barrigada ahead of Monday’s mass.  Preparations began earlier this week, according to grounds keeper Isaiah Hocog. 

"Mainly," he explained, "we’re focusing on the bushcutting. Then after that, we will be picking up the trash, cleaning up the garden, then we’ll make sure all the trash bins are empty and set for Monday. We like to keep our park clean and the places where families’ loved ones are. Keep it fresh and clean especially for a sacred holiday like that." 

It's a sacred holiday that holds special meaning for these residents.  Some shared with KUAM News what All Souls’ Day means to them and why it’s so important. Yigo's Ashley Bukikosa said, "It’s important to us because it’s a way to remember my mom. My husband and my mom are here. So are my grandparents. So it is some way that we can remember them, we can come celebrate them, be with them."

And Jackie Ignacio added, "We’re here to visit my mother, my grandparents, my mom’s siblings, my father-in-law and my mother-in-law, too. We remember all our loved ones who have gone before us. It’s important for us to remember them and to pray for their souls."

Meanwhile, there are some changes to All Souls’ Day masses.  The Archdiocese of Agana says public access is not permitted at Naval Base Guam due to the federal shutdown. Mass scheduled for the Sumay Cemetery in Naval Station will instead will be celebrated at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Santa Rita on 11am Saturday. 

Mass at Inalåhan Cemetery will be celebrated at 5pm instead of 6pm due to an unrelated change.

For the time being, all GDOE schools and offices will be closed Monday in observance of the holiday and there will be no classes for students.