“From the Archives” — Cemetery Improvements

Like most yards and gardens, Saint Mary’s cemetery has always needed mowing, trimming and pruning. Old tomb markers sometimes break and are repaired. When he became pastor in 1999, Father Robert Avella planned to make major improvements, but did not have a chance to do that before he left the parish. His successor, Father Dennis Kleinmann, was determined to improve this “precious jewel.” The bishop had given Saint Mary permission for improvements and work began slowly. There were many roadblocks, however, including a city-mandated archaeological dig. By Memorial Day 2003, most of the preliminary work had been done and Father Kleinmann announced at Mass, celebrated in the cemetery, that improvements would start that summer. This was to be the last Memorial Day Mass offered in the cemetery on a card table!

Apparently, things did not go as smoothly as he hoped. In December 2003, Father Kleinmann reported there had been little progress, slowed by a number of logistical complications. Fortunately, in June 2005, he was happy to report a new office/garage and storage/bathroom building had been completed. A new Royal Street entrance offered a “back door” alternative to dealing with busy traffic at the main entrance on South Washington Street. A new, gray marble altar, standing on two pedestals – one dedicated to veterans, the other to the unborn – had been completed.  The altar was dedicated and used for the first time on Corpus Christi Sunday, May 29, 2005, as parishioners gathered there for a rosary and Benediction. The first Mass was offered there the next day, Memorial Day, with the Knights of Columbus standing guard. A generous donation from a deceased parishioner had financed much of the work.

— Kitty Guy, Parish Historian

In 2020, to commemorate the 225th anniversary of our parish, we started “From the Archives” as a weekly feature online and in our bulletin to spotlight the history of Saint Mary’s. Due to its popularity, we are continuing the series in 2022. An archive of the features is located here.