More than 75 people attended the Season of Light Remembrance Tree Lighting Ceremony Tuesday evening at St. Benedict’s Senior Community in Monticello.

 

Also known as the Hospice Memory Tree Lighting Ceremony, the event is hosted by CentraCare Health-Monticello, St. Benedict’s and CentraCare Health Home Care and Hospice.

 

The ceremony is an opportunity for friends and family to gather and remember their loved ones who have passed away. 

 

To open the ceremony, CentraCare Health Monticello Co-administrator Bryan Bauck spoke about the Holiday season and his experience as a child.

 

He said his family used to gather at his grandparents’ house for Christmas.

 

“Grandpa always did a few things. He shared a Christmas story and we shared a prayer together,” he said. “But he also did two more things every year. He acknowledged the new people in the room - new spouses, babies and friends that hadn’t been part of our celebration before. He welcomed them to our celebration. 

 

“Second, he always took a moment to remember the people who could no longer be part of our holiday celebration, those people who had added so much to the tradition and to what we experienced. He would pause and ask us all to reflect on those people.”

 

Bauck said that reminded him of the evening’s Season of Light event.

 

“We also need to slow down, reflect and remember the people who helped make our traditions what they are.”

 

After an invocation by Rev. Jocelyn Bakkemo, the candle lighting ceremony took place.

 

The four candles represented the feelings each who have a lost one share - grief, memories, courage and love.

 

Nola Varilek of CentraCare Home Care and Hospice read a passage as each candle was lit.

 

Grief: The pain of losing you is intense. We hope to find the courage to persevere and move through this pain. It reminds us of the depth of our love for you.

 

Memories:  Memories of holidays or special days past. Memories for the times we laughed and the times we cried. Memories for the silly things you did and the joy you gave us.

 

Courage: Our courage to comfort our sorrow. Our courage to comfort each other and to change our lives. Our hope for the future, whatever it might bring.

 

Love: As we enter this holiday season, day by day we cherish your special place in our hearts, the special place that will always be reserved for you. We are warmed by the love we shared together. We thank you for the gift your giving has brought to us. We love you always. We will remember you.

 

Briana Ross of St. Benedict’s closed the candle lighting ceremony with a poem.

 

Thank you for the gift of you.

 

You gave us hope just by being you.

 

After the hurting and healing are through. 

 

We’ll treasure most of all, the gift of you.

 

The candle lighting was followed by the bell ringing ceremony. Each time the bell chimed, the name of a loved one was read, and as a family member placed an angel ornament on the tree, they were given their own candle to keep in memory of their loved one.

 

Then the tree was lit, and after a final reflection, guests were encouraged to share refreshments and memories at the close of the ceremony.