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Cemetery dedicates new burial garden
By Ambria Hammel, ahammel@catholicsun.org
June 19, 2008
MESA — More than 2,300 people paid their respects to deceased loved ones May 26 at one of the six Catholic cemeteries throughout the diocese.
“We gather today as a sign of peace and justice,” Fr. Greg Schlarb told a standing-room-only crowd on the Queen of Heaven Cemetery lawn.
The pastor of St. Anne Parish in Gilbert offered a Memorial Day Mass in honor of the veterans buried in the cemetery’s grounds. Their names were among those in the book of life that stood in front of the altar.
Fr. Schlarb said it was also a day to thank the country’s veterans still living — some of whom were present at the liturgy — for their service to the country.
In his homily, Fr. Schlarb helped Massgoers reflect on the Gospel passage about inheriting eternal life. He said, like the veterans buried around them, Catholics must use their gifts to serve others and “continue to cultivate this earth.”
“Look deep into how we are affecting one another,” Fr. Schlarb said. “How did you use these gifts? How will we answer that call when years from now, this celebration continues and our names are written in that book?”
After Mass, the Knights of Columbus honor guard led the crowd to the cemetery’s newest burial garden. The place of eternal rest is marked by a statue of St. Anne, which Fr. Schlarb blessed and dedicated.
Gary Brown, executive director of Catholic Cemeteries for the Diocese of Phoenix, said he names new gardens after the patron saints of neighboring parishes and erects statues to give family members something with which they can identify. The St. Anne statue features Jesus’ grandmother with a young Mary.
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