A longstanding Memorial Day tradition, Masses at Catholic cemeteries in the Diocese of Cleveland, continued on May 30.
Catholic Cemeteries Association, Diocese of Cleveland, hosted a dozen Masses this year – nine at some of its cemeteries and three in churches.
Masses were celebrated at these cemeteries: All Saints, Northfield; All Souls, Chardon; Calvary, Cleveland; Calvary, Lorain; Holy Cross, Akron; Holy Cross, Brook Park; Resurrection, Valley City; St. Joseph, Avon; and St. Mary. Cuyahoga Heights. St. Rocco Church, Cleveland, was the location of a Mass for St. Mary Cemetery in Cleveland and St. Agnes Church in Elyria hosted a Mass for St. Mary Cemetery, Elyria. Mass also was celebrated at St. Mary of the Falls Church in Olmsted Falls.
In preparation for Memorial Day, graves of veterans in the Catholic cemeteries were decorated with small flags by volunteers and Catholic Cemeteries employees. Members and friends of Catholic War Veterans St. Vitus Post 1655 in Cleveland spent several hours May 27-28 placing flags on hundreds of graves at Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland and All Souls Cemetery in Chardon.
At Calvary Cemetery in Lorain, Father Frank Kosem, a retired priest and former pastor of St. Jude Parish in Elyria, celebrated Mass in the mausoleum. Concelebrants were Father Bill Thaden, pastor of Sacred Heart Chapel in Lorain and Father Craig Hovanec, pastor of St. Peter and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary parishes, both in Lorain.
Father Kosem noted the large crowd in attendance reminded him of the days when the late Bishop James Quinn celebrated Memorial Day Mass at Calvary in Lorain.
He shared a short history of the origins of Memorial Day, an observance that began in the Civil War era to honor those who died in the service of their country.
“Our lives are in the hands of God,” Father Kosem said. “We are an Easter people.”
As a member of a large family, Father Kosem said he has many memories. His parents and several siblings have died, but he still cherishes the memories. “Our families are where our roots begin and our faith grows. We extend that to our parish families,” he added.
The Gospel for the day tells us, “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Father Kosem said he loves this Gospel from St. Matthew.
“A cemetery is a place of rest,” he said, adding everyone grieves differently. “We pray for healing. We pray with and for you as we continue to grow as a community. We also pray for peace. Let the grace of God be part of us,” Father Kosem said.
“We come here with grateful hearts and leave our troubles here. We are nourished in the Eucharist. May we be Eucharist for others through our kindness, words and deeds,” he added.
After Mass, the Knights of Columbus James L. Martin Council 637 from Lorain led the priests and faithful a short distance from the mausoleum to a new Memorial for the Unborn that was dedicated in the cemetery. Joe Perez, past grand knight, said the memorial is “a place of closure for families who lots an unborn child” during pregnancy, a stillborn child or due to abortion.
The memorial was the culmination of a nearly 18-month collaboration between the Catholic Cemeteries Association and seven parishes: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, St. Mary, St. Peter and St. Anthony, all in Lorain, and St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Elyria.
Some photos were submitted by Catholic Cemeteries Association.