Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine dedicated by Bishop Olmsted

By Catherine E. Hanley | Nov. 17, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

FLAGSTAFF — Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted led more than 100 Catholics gathered at Calvary Cemetery Nov. 8 in a dedication ceremony of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The bishop, who was joined by Fr. Patrick Mowrer, pastor of San Francisco de Asís Parish, addressed the mid-1950s restoration undertaken at Calvary Cemetery, which destroyed several memorials. Many graves could not be located.

Bishop Olmsted prayed that the dedication of the shrine would provide families closure and hope moving forward. The names of those buried before 1959 are included on a cenotaph.

Gary L. Brown, president and executive director of the Diocese of Phoenix’s Catholic Cemeteries and Mortuaries, called it “an appropriate monument for families to memorialize a loved one” whose remains rest in the cemetery. 

George Sepulveda, who works as a sexton at the cemetery, echoed Brown’s sentiments.

“The presence of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who we all love so much, watched over us all this time,” he said. “The first and last names of all our families buried here prior to 1959 will be included at the shrine.”

The shrine includes a six-foot, 7,000-pound, hand-carved granite statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 128 cremation spaces and a five-foot, 2,500-pound granite commemorative monument.

The shrine at Calvary Cemetery is named in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe because she is known as the Mother of Americas and the patron saint of the Diocese of Phoenix and Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel in Flagstaff.

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