Welcome to Gate of Heaven Cemetery & Mausoleum – I’m Father Joe! How May I Assist You?
A Chaplain of Prayerful Initiatives
Soon after I arrived at Gate of Heaven, I introduced a simple idea: my Chaplain Prayer Box, placed inside the new Chapel Mausoleum of the Resurrection. I invited visitors to write the names of their departed on cards for me to pray over daily. The response was immediate and overwhelming—so many cards were submitted that I have had to replenish supplies continually!
Moved by this incredible outpouring of faith, I created a prayer board to display these intentions, offering a visible testament to the community’s shared remembrance. Alongside the box, I also placed memorial ribbons inscribed with “Forever in Our Hearts,” encouraging visitors to take a tangible piece of their loved ones’ memory with them. These small yet powerful gestures have already fostered a renewed spirit of prayer, reminding visitors that the Church keeps vigil not only in her parishes but also here, in her cemeteries.
The Language of Silence
For me, silence itself is a powerful ministry. “Here, silence is not emptiness—it is a language,” I explain. “The prayers spoken over these graves are acts of fidelity: to love, to hope, to the belief that life matters beyond the last breath.” My core work is to tend to this place so that every visit offers something more than mere memory—a quiet, powerful assurance that the bond between the living and the dead is real, and that the hope which springs from it is truly worth holding on to.
My New Ministry at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery & Mausoleum
After almost thirty years of serving in various parishes, I, Fr. Joseph Montes de Oca—or Fr. Joe, as I prefer to be called—have embarked on a new, deeply fulfilling chapter in my priestly life. My current vocation unites my pastoral experience with the Church’s ancient, beautiful call to pray for the dead and offer comfort to those who mourn.
Today, I serve as the Catholic chaplain at Gate of Heaven Cemetery and Mausoleum in East Hanover, while I reside nearby at St. Philomena Parish in Livingston. In this role, I am dedicated to reshaping the way families experience our Catholic cemeteries, turning them into places defined by hope, ongoing communion, and profound prayer.
Ministry Shaped by Loss and Hope
My ministry here is deeply personal. Having walked through the pain of loss myself, I know the tender ache that lingers after a death. This awareness drives my special focus on grief ministry. My work is not solely about commending souls to God, but also about actively helping families sustain their spiritual connection to the loved ones who rest here.
As I pursue my Ph.D. in theology, I strive to blend academic depth with genuine pastoral care. For me, a Catholic cemetery transcends the role of a mere resting place; it is consecrated ground where faith and memory beautifully converge. “This cemetery is more than a place where names are carved in stone,” I often reflect. “It is sacred ground where love has outlasted time, where stories continue even after voices have fallen silent.”
A Mission Beyond East Hanover
My vision is part of a broader, Archdiocesan mission. We will be holding open houses at our other Catholic cemeteries across the Archdiocese of Newark, inviting families in Mahwah, Franklin Lakes, North Arlington, Colonia, and Jersey City to reflect, pray, and plan with this same sense of Christian hope. The message is constant: Catholic cemeteries are places of faith, healing, and encounter.
For those who cannot visit in person, I extend my presence beyond the cemetery walls. If you would like me to pray for you and your loved ones, please feel free to reach out directly at J.MontesDeOca@rcan.org or by phone at call me at (908) 644-0523
