Masses were celebrated on Memorial Day, May 27, at a dozen Catholic cemeteries, part of the Catholic Cemeteries Association, Diocese of Cleveland.
A beautiful, sunny day attracted a large group to the liturgy that was conducted on the lawn at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brook Park. The Knights of Columbus formed an honor guard for Father Chris Cox, parochial vicar at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Parma who was the celebrant. Concelebrant was Mercedarian Father David Bowen from Our Lady of Mount Carmel West Parish in Cleveland.
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend,” Father Cox said. He noted that some of the prayers said at the liturgy may sound familiar to those who served in the military and were deployed. “You’ve heard some of these prayers. The sacrifice of the Mass unites us. The Eucharist unites us through space and time,” he said, explaining why Mass was being celebrated instead of a prayer service.
“God unites us in the sacrifice of the Mass,” he said. “We remember the loved ones we’ve lost – the hopes, dreams, joys and sorrows of the loved ones who’ve gone before us are remembered at every Mass.”
Father Cox said Memorial Day is a good time to recall that Jesus said he is the vine and we are the branches. “Remember that today. Commend those we’ve lost to the Lord and ask him to have mercy on them. We remember our family, friends, loved ones and perhaps even the soldier in the foxhole. Thanks be to God for such a great gift,” he said of the Mass.
Many of those attending the liturgy stopped to visit graves of their loved ones and to offer a prayer. The graves of those who served in the military were decorated with small American flags, a longtime tradition at the cemetery. Also, flags representing the branches of the military were flying on flagpoles flanking the tent where Mass was offered.
