by Jim Jones, Manager

For the sake of identification and location, I am going to divide the cemetery into two parts.  We will first look at the north side of Oak Street, and then the south side. 

As you enter the cemetery through Gate 1, the first thing you see as you approach the mausoleum is the St. Francis statue.  When you get a chance, read the prayer of St. Francis before the Cross of San Damiano.  You will get a good idea of where St. Francis's heart was at the time.

If you turn left at the entrance and look toward the oleanders, you will see the statue of Our Lady of Grace.  Turn right and look toward the street where you will find the statue of St. Joseph.  Continue on the road south of the mausoleum to find the 7th St. Francis Shrine (You will find the other six south of Oak).  This shrine is enclosed by a beautiful hedge, as are all of the St. Francis shrines, with the statue of St. Francis overlooking the head of the shrine.

Continue on the north side to the roadway east of the flagpole, walk as far to the east as you can.  There you find the Shrine of Eternal Love, donated by Caroline Steinegger.  On the plaque she requests that the charity of the donor be remembered.  Whenever I read this, I am reminded that you can also, through your loving kindness, donate to the cemetery and have a plaque made in honor of your charity.

If  you continue straight out toward Gate 5 you will see a circle containing the Crucifixion Altar and Crucifixion Mound, a wonderful outdoor meditation spot where you can ponder the crucifixion of our Lord.

Just east of the Crucifixion Mound is the Holy Family Shrine.  When you visit the shrine you will understand this as a memorialization of the divine institution that is the human family.

As you enter Gate 2, off of 48th Street just south of Oak, you will see on the lawn six St. Francis Shrines.  These shrines represent the six themes of the Peace Prayer:  Love, Pardon, Faith, Hope, Light and Joy.

Continue on the south side of the cemetery toward the back to see what many people say is the most beautiful spot in the cemetery - St. Theresa Walkway that will guide you through oleander trees that are canopied on top to create a tunnel effect.  When the oleanders are blooming, this area is truly magnificent.  The walkway ends at the St. Theresa Statue.

Last but not least the the St. Thomas the Apostle statue.  When you read about the wonderful works Our Lord accomplished through him, it is hard to believe that we know him as Doubting Thomas.

There you have it.  I hope you are able to take a tour soon, and remember ... we will see you at the All Souls Day Mass as we surround the St. Francis Statue.

About Cremation

From time to time, stories pop up in the news about cremation urns that are kept in the home. On June 2 in Tempe, a woman reported that an urn containing her husband's remains was stolen from home along with credit cards and jewelry. Thankfully, the urn was recovered a month later but not without causing much concern. Dozens of other examples of urns being stolen can easily be found in press reports. But theft is not the only danger.

Urns kept at home are sometimes accidently sent to thrift stores. Relatives who do not know the significance may discard an urn containing a loved one's remains. Catholic teaching is clear that all human remains should be properly interred in a cemetery. An urn can be properly placed in a columbarium niche or buried in a cemetery lot. It is not appropriate to try to keep cremated human remains in the home.

Diocese of Phoenix Catholic Cemeteries have many options for the proper and dignified permanent placement of an urn. Indoor and outdoor columbarium are inspiring places to visit with nearby religious art and statues. A favorite place at St. Francis Cemetery is the Luminous Mysteries Chapel in Resurrection Mausoleum. The chapel houses a mosaic Madonna. At Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Mesa, the newly completed outdoor St. Anne columbarium invites visitors up a tree-lined pathway to a more than life-sized statue of St Anne instructing the Virgin Mary. Spectacular indoor glass front niches are available at St. Francis, Holy Cross, and Queen of Heaven Cemeteries. Special cremation gardens offer many choices from traditional burial to specialized benches, boulders, and other very affordable options.

Cremation, when done the right way, according to Catholic practices, has all the benefits of traditional burial. Families can pay their last respects to the person before the cremation takes place. A casket (purchased or rented) may be present for the Funeral Mass. After the cremation, your parish priest will provide a graveside committal service at the cemetery.

If you are considering cremation or if you know of an urn of friends or family that has not yet been properly placed, please call or come in to speak with one of our service counselors. We can help make everything right.

SILK FLOWERS

As a convenience to our families, cemetery flowers are now available on our web site or from the displays in our cemetery offices.  These beautiful silk bouquets are secured with the patented "Stay-In-The- VaseÒ" device.  We will even place the flowers for you.  These bouquets comply with our Decoration Policies.  Keep in mind that the normal clean up dates apply.

Click on this link https://www.catholiccemeteriesphx.com/flowers  to order from our Web Site.  You may also purchase from the displays in the lobbies of our cemeteries.

ALL SOUL'S DAY

Please join us at the cemeteries for All Soul's Day Masses when we gather to remember all who have died and whose names are written in the BOOK OF LIFE - November 2, 2011.

                                                   St. Francis Cemetery                    4:30 pm

                                                   Holy Cross Cemetery                   4:30 pm

                                                   Queen of Heaven Cemetery          4:30 pm

                                                   Holy Redeemer Cemetery             4:30 pm

                                                   Calvary Cemetery                         5:30 pm

                                                   All Souls Cemetery                       9:00 am