Peaceful Recreation in Extraordinary Times

By Kate Rhea Peaceful Recreation in Extraordinary Times

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People often struggle to find time in their busy lives to visit cemeteries, but when they’re finally able to make that visit, they inevitably feel at peace and more connected to their late loved ones. After a month of quarantine, a word seldom used before, but now heard daily, time feels different; slower or faster depending on many factors, but surely different. While we’ve been urged to shelter at home and socially distance ourselves to aid in managing this pandemic, we have also been encouraged to get fresh air, take walks and exercise. With the beautiful Louisiana spring now come and nearly gone, the weather is perfect for a stroll in St. Joseph Cemetery.

Passing time in a thoughtful and prayerful manner is vital during this time of uncertainty. Cemeteries are inherently places of rest where time has halted for those who have passed on; places which perfectly promote quiet reflection and meditation.

Throughout the last several months we have been actively restoring and cleaning monuments so that all can enjoy the beauty that is St. Joseph Cemetery.

Please see several before (left) and after (right) photos of memorial stones, tombstones and statuary that have been cleaned and in some cases reconstructed to preserve the information on them and make the cemetery more pleasing to the eye. You will notice the family names are listed also as well as the cost of cleaning the stone. The funds for this type of work are very limited and actually come from the wonderful generosity of family members and others interested in notable gravesites at St. Joseph Cemetery. If you can find it in your hearts to make a donation to the Cemetery to continue this work it will be greatly appreciated. Regardless, we will continue to pick and choose sites to refurbish in an effort to upgrade the final resting place of many of the Irish, French, Lebanese, Italian and American parents, grandparents, Church leaders, Yellow Fever martyrs and war veterans.

Continue checking the website and our Catholic Connection for more information as we look forward to offering another Mass at the Cemetery on Memorial Day, 2020. God bless, stay healthy and as always thank you for your kindness and assistance.

For more information on the ongoing restoration of St. Joseph Cemetery, please contact Randy Tiller at rtiller@dioshpt.org or Kate Rhea at krhea@ dioshpt.org. After After After