If you want to be part of history, you may want to consider heading to Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, on Monday, May 29, at 11 a.m. That’s because for the first time ever, a Cardinal will be the celebrant of the cemetery’s annual Memorial Day Mass.
Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark will join thousands of Catholic cemeteries nationwide in the commemoration, “Serving God and Country: A Memorial Day Salute to Our Heroes,” by celebrating Memorial Day Mass on Monday, May 29, at 11 a.m., at local cemeteries and parishes — including at North Arlington’s Holy Cross Cemetery.
“All are invited to visit the graves of our fallen heroes as we pray for all our departed loved ones at Memorial Day Mass,” said Andrew P. Schafer, executive director of Catholic Cemeteries, a ministry of the Archdiocese of Newark. “We will celebrate Mass at all Archdiocesan cemeteries once again this year, including an historic open-air Mass with Newark’s first Cardinal-Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin, at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington.”
“Serving God and Country: A Memorial Day Salute to Our Heroes,” is a national program developed by the Catholic Cemetery Conference to honor members of the military who died in combat and recognize veterans and current service men and women.
Active military personnel and veterans are invited to participate in Mass at Holy Cross Cemetery to serve as flag or candle bearers during the opening and closing processions, as lectors, as participants in the presentation of gifts and to recite uniform intercessions followed by a moment of silence. This program also is an ideal time for Catholics in the community and throughout the country to unite, remember and pray for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Memorial Day Mass will be celebrated at the following Archdiocesan Catholic Cemeteries locations (including in North Arlington) on Monday, May 29, at 11 a.m. with the following celebrants:
- Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington —open-air Mass celebrated by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin.
• Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover — the Rev. Msgr. Robert E. Emery.
• Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah — the Rev. Msgr. Thomas P. Nydegger.
• St. Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia — the Most Rev. Manuel A. Cruz.
• Holy Name Cemetery, Jersey City — the Rev. Msgr. Gregory J. Studerus.
• Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes — the Most Rev. John W. Flesey.
• Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Orange — the Rev. Philip J. Waters.
Archdiocesan cemeteries honor and cherish fallen heroes and veterans, and remember them throughout the year during monthly Masses, Veteran’s Day, Flag Day and certainly on Memorial Day. Flags fly daily in designated areas over all Archdiocesan cemeteries to honor those presently serving and those who have served.
Additionally, more than 1,000 American flags are placed at the memorials of veterans interred at Catholic cemeteries for Memorial Day, and those flags remain through Flag Day.
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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, an organization he has served since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on social media channels such as YouTube, Facebook, and X, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to Kearny to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.