Catholic Transcript Online

More than 80 people gathered in the mausoleum at the 67-acre Holy Cross Cemetery recently to witness the blessing and celebrate the Eucharist.

The Archbishop presided at the Mass. Concelebrants were priests and deacons representing several parishes served by Holy Cross Cemetery, including Father George Couturier, Pastor of St. Dunstan in Glastonbury; Father Vincent Curran, Pastor of St. Christopher in East Hartford; Father John Gwozdz, Pastor of St. Augustine in South Glastonbury and St. Paul in Glastonbury; Deacon Julio Maturana of St. Rose in East Hartford; and Deacon John McKaig of St. John Fisher in Marlborough.

Msgr. David M. Walker, director of the Catholic Cemeteries Association for the Archdiocese of Hartford Inc., also concelebrated.

Surrounded by marble walls and beneath impressive crystal chandeliers, Archbishop Mansell said that burying the dead is a corporal work of mercy and that we are called to, as he put it, "Care for life through natural death and beyond."

The community mausoleum is a simple, elegant structure. The interior walls, crypt and niche fronts are beige marble with brown marble trim. The exterior walls, crypt and niche fronts are rose granite with black granite trim.

In harmony with the simple elegance of the mausoleum?s interior, the artwork consists of three bronze reliefs depicting the Last Supper, the removal of Christ?s body from the crucifixion site and his burial. The mausoleum also houses a chapel area for small gatherings, reflection and prayer.

Within the chapel, electronic memorial candles provide an opportunity to light a candle in memory of the deceased. "In addition to being a place for the dead, cemeteries are a place for the living to come, remember and pray for their departed loved ones," said Msgr. Walker.

The association has 29 member cemeteries. In addition, there are 55 parish cemeteries within the Archdiocese.

"It is the desire of the parish that all who have been united in life by a common faith rest together in a common place until Christ comes in glory to raise up our mortal bodies," Msgr. Walker said.

"Whenever possible, land has been obtained, developed and blessed so that the faithful may have a fitting place of rest until the Resurrection," he added.

The mausoleum will provide resting places for more than 2,000. There are more than 1,700 casket spaces and 430 niches for cremated remains.

"The mausoleum offers families more options with regards to burial needs," said Craig S. Neal, executive director of the archdiocesan Catholic Cemeteries Association.

Construction of the mausoleum began in August 2006. All excavation and site work was completed by cemetery employees. The structure was built by McCleskey Construction Inc., of Norcross, Ga., a firm that specializes in mausoleum construction. The company has built five of the 16 community mausoleums that are located in cemeteries that are part of the Catholic Cemeteries Association.