Traditional Memorial Day Masses were celebrated on May 26 at cemeteries and in churches throughout the eight-county Diocese of Cleveland. The liturgies were coordinated by the Catholic Cemeteries Association.
Among the locations where Mass was offered was All Souls Cemetery in Chardon, where Father Fred Pausche, pastor of St. Gabriel Parish in Concord Township, was the celebrant. Father David Majikas, pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Barberton, concelebrated the liturgy. Deacon George Malec assisted and the choir and musicians from St. Gabriel provided music under the direction of Kevin Donahue.
Hundreds of people gathered on the lawn near the cemetery office building for the Mass. An altar was set up under a tent.
Father Pausche said he’s been celebrating the Memorial Day Mass at All Souls for many years.
“I’m coming to the end of my parish ministry,” he said, explaining he will be retiring June 30, but is willing to continue celebrating the cemetery Mass. “Father Dave and I used to cut the grass here (at All Souls),” he added.
“It is good to be here on this beautiful day,” Father Pausche told those gathered for Mass.
In his homily, he talked about fatigue and how it can affect people physically as well as spiritually.
“Fatigue of spirit can come after the death of a loved one,” he said, explaining how it can grip a person. Sometimes it can be difficult to think clearly and you may lose the desire to do things, especially soon after losing a loved one. “It can overburden you,” Father Pausche said.
“But there is a remedy,” he said, referring to the Gospel and Scripture readings for the Mass.
“The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no more torment shall touch them.” Said the first reading from Wisdom 3:1-9.
In the second reading, from Romans 6:3-9, it said: “If then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.”
And in the Gospel from Matthew, proclaimed by Deacon Malec, Jesus said, “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 Pausche said the Lord is here “to turn that sorrow into a sense of peace. Jesus lost his loved ones,” he said, recalling the story of Lazarus who died and was raised from the dead by Jesus. He explained that Jesus was human and felt the sense of loss, even weeping at his friend’s death.
“Faith lets us find solace in the Gospel message,” he said, once again reminding the faithful that Jesus invites us to come to him for peace and comfort. “If you are fatigued, you know the remedy. Jesus tells us, ‘come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest.’”
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