Join Us For Memorial Day Masses May 27, 2024 at 11 AM

Attend Memorial Day Mass To Honor Veterans, Their Legacies

Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark invites you to honor the memories of fallen heroes and celebrate the service of veterans and active-duty military personnel at Memorial Day Masses on Monday, May 27, 2024, at 11:00 AM across various archdiocesan cemeteries.

Join thousands of Catholic cemeteries across the United States in a national celebration, “Serving God and Country: A Memorial Day Salute to Our Heroes.” This national program, developed by the Catholic Cemetery Conference, honors men and women who died while serving in the armed forces, as well as recognizing both active duty military and veterans.

Most Masses will be held outdoors under large canopy tents, with seating provided. *Gate of Heaven and Maryrest cemeteries Masses will be held inside their mausoleums.

This inspiring event promises to be a powerful experience of community and remembrance. His Eminence Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., D.D., Archbishop of Newark, will co-celebrate Mass at Holy Cross Cemetery, which is currently constructing the stunning Open-Air Mausoleum of the Holy Spirit.

Memorial Day Mass will be celebrated simultaneously at various Archdiocesan Catholic Cemeteries locations with distinguished celebrants.

  • Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ – Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., D.D.
  • *Gate of Heaven – Most Reverend Manuel A. Cruz, D.D.
  • *Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah, NJ – Most Reverend Michael A. Saporito, D.D.
  • Saint Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia – Most Reverend Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B., D.D.
  • Holy Name Cemetery, Jersey City – Most Reverend Gregory J. Studerus, D.D.
  • Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes – Very Reverend John J. Chadwick, S.T.D.
  • Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Orange – Rev. Philip J. Waters, O.S.B.

Don’t miss this opportunity to honor our heroes and their families. Join us in person for Memorial Day Masses and be part of this special celebration of remembrance and gratitude.

Visit www.rcancem.org/memorial-day-mass for more information and location details.

Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark is committed to honoring and remembering veterans throughout the year during monthly Masses, Veteran’s Day, Flag Day, and Memorial Day. Flags fly daily in designated areas across all Archdiocesan cemeteries, and over one thousand American flags are placed at the memorials of interred veterans for Memorial Day, remaining through Flag Day.

For more information about Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark and their ministry, contact a Memorial Planning Advisor at cemetery@rcan.org or visit www.CatholicJourney.org.

#MemorialDayMass #HonoringHeroes #CatholicCemeteries #ArchdioceseOfNewark

 About Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark

The Ministry of Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark exists to meet the needs of individuals and families before, at the time of death and burial, and throughout bereavement. They also provide Monthly Masses of Remembrance celebrated at Archdiocesan Catholic cemeteries throughout the year, typically during the first week of each month and on special days. Contact a caring and professional Memorial Planning Advisor at cemetery@rcan.org or learn more at www.rcancem.org.

Read Story & See Images Below From Last Year’s Memorial Day Masses

By Maxim Almenas

As family and friends arrived at Gate of Heaven Cemetery’s new Chapel Mausoleum of the Resurrection on Memorial Day, they were met by fields covered with American flags, a red, white, and blue floral wreath, and a life-size statue of Saint Padre Pio.

Inside, they were amazed by the tall marble columns, the life-like Stations of the Cross statues, and the magnificent two-story mosaic of the resurrected Christ. Many were wives, husbands, or adult children of those who had served in one of the branches of the United States military, and others were veterans who had served and came to honor and remember their fallen brethren during the national Mass celebration, “Serving God and Country: A Memorial Day Salute to Our Heroes.”

Joseph W. Cardinal Tobin, C.Ss.R., D.D., Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, the main celebrant, made the occasion all the more extraordinary by blessing the new Chapel Mausoleum, including all the interred and all in attendance.

“We bless this place of worship – this house of prayer. It will have special meaning because it will welcome – yes, daughters and sons of God, but many who are grieving,” explained Tobin during his homily. “Now, the word of God does not say that we do not grieve. Of course, we do. But [St.] Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, says, ‘Don’t grieve like people who have no hope.’ We have hope because of those final words of Jesus, ‘It’s done.’ It’s completed. The new race is born.”

As the remarkable turnout of men, women, and children, over 300 in attendance, listened intently,

Tobin drew parallels between the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, soldiers on the battlefields, and mothers who risked their own lives to save others.

“And [Blessed Virgin] Mary is part of that sacrifice. And mothers know particularly the importance of remembering so there will be no more,” Tobin added.

In addition to the Mass at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover, six other Memorial Masses were celebrated simultaneously across the archdiocese in Bergen County at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, NJ, by Most Reverend Manuel A. Cruz, D.D., Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah, NJ, by Most Reverend Michael A. Saporito, D.D., and Christ the King Cemetery in Franklin Lakes by Very Reverend John J. Chadwick, S.T.D.

In Middlesex County, a Memorial Day Mass was celebrated at Saint Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia by the Most Reverend Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B., D.D., in Hudson County at Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City, by Most Reverend Gregory J. Studerus, D.D., and in Essex County at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in East Orange, by Rev. Philip J. Waters, O.S.B.

Photos from 2023 Memorial Day Mass, Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, NJ (Rick Tracy)

Photos from Memorial Day Mass, Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ (Sabrina Hajsok)

Photos from Memorial Day Mass, Saint Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia, NJ (by Robert Horvath)

Photos from Memorial Day Mass, Holy Name Cemetery, Jersey City, NJ (By Ranjith Kumar)

Photos from Memorial Day Mass, Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah, NJ (Joseph Sorrentino)

Photos from Memorial Day Mass at Christ The King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes, NJ (Jamie Stow)

Photos from Memorial Day Mass at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Orange, NJ (Alex Gulino)