Hundreds gather for souls of departed
Abbé Felipe Rebollo led prayers for the dead at Toukra cemetery on November 2, 2026.
Hundreds of faithful gathered at Toukra cemetery in N’Djamena on Monday, November 2, 2026, for a solemn prayer service for the souls of the departed. Abbé Felipe Rebollo, parish priest of Saint Joseph de Ngonba, led the ceremony, joined by other priests from N’Djamena.
Standing among whitewashed tombs, Abbé Rebollo preached that death is a passage to eternal life, not an end. Prayers were offered for deceased parents, children, priests, sisters, flood victims, and soldiers who died for the nation. A procession followed, with general blessing of the graves using holy water.
One attendee from Ngonba, in tears, testified that the church's prayer assures her son is not alone. Abbé Rebollo and his fellow priests, accompanied by altar servers, walked through the cemetery, sprinkling graves and encouraging the faithful to do the same for their lost loved ones.
Why it mattersHundreds of faithful in N'Djamena gathered to pray for the souls of the departed, including flood victims and fallen soldiers.