New chaplain brings prayer and presence to Gate of Heaven Cemetery
After nearly three decades of parish ministry, Fr. Joseph Montes de Oca has embarked on a new chapter in his vocation—one that unites his pastoral heart with the Church’s timeless call to pray for the dead and console the living.
Now serving as Catholic chaplain at Gate of Heaven Cemetery and Mausoleum in East Hanover, while residing at St. Philomena Parish in Livingston, Fr. Joe, “as he prefers to be called,” is reshaping how families experience Catholic cemeteries as places of hope, communion, and prayer.
Ministry Shaped by Loss and Hope
Fr. Joe’s ministry is deeply personal. Having experienced loss himself, he knows the tender ache that lingers after death. This awareness fuels his special focus on grief ministry. His vocation is not only to commend souls to God but also to help families remain spiritually connected to their loved ones.
Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in theology, Fr. Joe blends academic depth with pastoral care. For him, a Catholic cemetery is not only a resting place but sacred ground where faith and memory converge. “This cemetery is more than a place where names are carved in stone,” he said. “It is sacred ground where love has outlasted time, where stories continue even after voices have fallen silent.”
A Chaplain of Prayerful Initiatives
Soon after arriving at Gate of Heaven, Fr. Joe introduced his Chaplain Prayer Box inside the new Chapel Mausoleum of the Resurrection. Visitors were invited to write the names of their departed on cards for him to pray over. The response was overwhelming — so many cards were submitted that he had to replenish supplies continually.
Moved by this outpouring, Fr. Joe created a prayer board displaying the intentions, a visible testament to the community’s faith and remembrance. Alongside the box, he also placed memorial ribbons inscribed with “Forever in Our Hearts,” encouraging visitors to carry their loved ones’ memories with them in a tangible way.
These small yet powerful gestures have already fostered a renewed spirit of prayer at the cemetery, reminding visitors that the Church keeps vigil not only in her parishes but also at her cemeteries.
The Language of Silence
For Fr. Joe, silence itself is a ministry. “Here, silence is not emptiness—it is a language,” he explained. “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 work is to tend this place so that every visit offers something more than memory—a quiet assurance that the bond between the living and the dead is real, and that the hope which springs from it is worth holding on to.”
Upcoming Prayer Services
Fr. Joe will officially welcome families during Gate of Heaven’s Open House Weekend on Saturday, September 13, and Sunday, September 14, where he will lead special prayer services for the recently deceased at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. in the Chapel Mausoleum of the Resurrection. Visitors may also explore the cemetery between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Alongside these spiritual offerings, families will have the opportunity to meet with Memorial Planning Advisors who can guide them in preparing for the future, including financing options.
A Mission Beyond East Hanover
Fr. Joe’s vision is part of a broader mission across the Archdiocese of Newark, where upcoming open houses at other Catholic cemeteries will invite families to reflect, pray, and plan with the same sense of hope. Whether in Mahwah, Franklin Lakes, North Arlington, Colonia, or Jersey City, the message is the same: Catholic cemeteries are places of faith, healing, and encounter.
In a culture often uneasy with grief, Fr. Joe’s ministry stands as a reminder that Catholic cemeteries are not about endings but about continuities. They are places where faith and love have the final word.
“Every cross, every stone, every prayer here is a witness,” Fr. Joe said. “A witness to hope, to faith, and to the truth that nothing—not even death—can separate us from the love of Christ.”
To learn more about the upcoming open house event, click the link below or send an email to cemetery@rcan.org. Open House Weekend – Gate of Heaven – Catholic Cemeteries.
For those who cannot attend the prayer service or visit the cemetery in person, they can contact Father Joe at his email address: J.MontesDeOca@rcan.org or call 908-644-0523.
To learn more about Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark, visit www.rcancem.org.
Catholic Cemeteries is offering Fall Open House events at these locations:
September 13 & 14: Gate of Heaven Cemetery & Mausoleum, 225 Ridgedale Ave., East Hanover, N.J. 07936. www.GateofHeavenCemetery.org. (973) 887-0286.
September 27 & 28: Maryrest Cemetery & Mausoleum, 770 Darlington Ave., Mahwah, N.J. 07430. www.MaryrestCemetery.org. (201) 327‑7011.
September 27 & 28: Christ The King Cemetery, 980 Huron Road, Franklin Lakes, N.J. 07417. www.ChristTheKingCemetery.org. (201) 891-9191.
October 11 & 12: Holy Cross Cemetery & Mausoleum, 340 Ridge Rd., North Arlington, N.J. 07031. www.HolyCross-Cemetery.org. (201) 997-1900.
October 25 & 26: St. Gertrude Cemetery & Mausoleum, 53 Inman Ave., Colonia, N.J. 07067. www.SaintGertrudeCemetery.org. (732) 388-0311.
November 8 & 9: Holy Name Cemetery & Mausoleum, 823 West Side Ave., Jersey City, N.J. 07306. www.HolyNameCemetery.org (201) 433-0342.
Featured image: Remembrance ribbons at the Chapel Mausoleum of the Resurrection. (All photos courtesy of Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark)
