Building Bridges and Birdhouses: How the Archdiocese is cultivating spiritual growth and unity in Catholic youth (Video/ Photos)
In the noise and frenzy of the digital age, it’s easy to lose sight of spiritual grounding. This perspective set the tone for the annual Summer Service Week, “Living Faith,” a unique, faith-enriching initiative organized by the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Archdiocese of Newark, aimed to foster spiritual growth and unity among the Catholic youth.
The Summer Service Week offers an experience far from mundane community work. It’s an active embodiment of faith, an artistic interweaving of community service and spiritual reflection. By partaking in tasks like painting, landscaping, and feeding the needy, the young volunteers ignite their faith in every action, reflecting their love and commitment to the church and the wider community.
A distinctive highlight of the week is the birdhouse building event, conducted over three days in association with the Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark. This year it was held at the award-winning Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum in North Arlington, NJ.
These birdhouses, lovingly assembled and painted by the teens, are each a personal dedication to a loved one. Colin Coakley, a Cranford High School senior and parishioner of Saint Helen in Westfield, NJ, shared, “Creating these birdhouses is a tangible connection to those we miss. In our work, we honor their memory.”
Holy Cross Cemetery is far more than a burial ground; it is a living testament to the interweaving of art, faith, and heritage. The mausoleum tour, provided while the birdhouses dry, gives the teens their first exposure to Catholic burial traditions, opening new windows of understanding into the spiritual depth of their faith. Many leave the cemetery profoundly moved by the experience and the shared reflection on the interplay of life, death, and belief.
Westfield High School’s rising senior, James Hamilton, was deeply moved by the experience, “The cemetery is not merely an endpoint. It’s a celebration of the journey of life and the hereafter. It’s an affirmation of faith and a testament to hope.”
Grace Cattita, a member of St. Catherine Parish, Glen Rock, NJ, offered her insights, “Our faith is an integral part of our lives, shaping our journey from the cradle to the grave. The cemetery becomes a beacon of hope and remembrance, reflecting our enduring love.”
Echoing these sentiments, Dana McStowe, a Youth Minister from St. Catherine’s Parish in Glen Rock, spent each day assisting teens partaking in the cemetery experience. Although she participated in the same event at Gate of Heaven Cemetery and Mausoleum in East Hanover, NJ,
the year before, shortly after the opening of the new Chapel Mausoleum of the Resurrection, she found this year’s experience particularly special.
“It is super impactful to allow the teens to create a birdhouse that will help make the cemetery beautiful,” said McStowe, adding she enjoyed watching the teens create their birdhouse and tell stories about their loved ones they are dedicating them to.
“The activity allows the teens to see that service does not always have to be hard work, but the simple joy of creating something for someone can help them,” McStowe added. “Getting the tour of the cemetery also allows the teens to learn more about their faith, and it also allows them to ask questions that they normally do not get a chance to ask.”
The cemetery exploration was further enriched by Luis Reyes and Dillon Sinegra, manager and assistant manager, who shared captivating insights into the mausoleum’s craftsmanship, history, and the profound stories behind each memorial.
Walking through the Genesis Chapel of the mausoleum, the teens witnessed a captivating series of six murals, each representing the six days of creation as mentioned in the Book of Genesis. These unique works of art are the masterpieces of the husband and wife team, Alexander and Daniela Mandradjiev, from Alexander Studio in Southern California.
More than a million fragments of stone and glass on fiberglass mesh were utilized to realize the over 1,700 colors in the mosaic murals, creating a dynamic and nuanced movement in the visuals. High-grade Venetian Smalti, gold leaf, and precious stones from across the globe were chosen for their lasting quality and distinct textures, encapsulating the essence of Earth’s creation.
Miriam Walsh from Saint Helen Parish, a senior at Westfield High School, found the artworks inspiring and impressive.
“I’m striving to be an art history major. I dream of curating at the Met [Metropolitan Museum of Art] for ancient Greek, Roman, and Spanish art one day, and I love mosaics. I think they’re super cool. I’ve done mosaics before. I know how difficult they are to make,” explained Walsh, adding that art enables her to connect on a deeper level with her faith. “Art tells a story of what was happening at the time – you can always find a deeper meaning within art, which I love.”
While walking through the mausoleum’s outdoor gardens, teens from Saint Helen Parish in Westfield, NJ, took selfies with the 15-foot marble statue of their patron saint. They also posed with another statue that pays homage to Michelangelo’s Rondanini Pietà – a powerful representation of Mary holding Jesus, which was left incomplete due to the sculptor’s declining health. The statue in Holy Cross Cemetery presents this artwork in its ‘finished’ form, offering a unique vision of this iconic piece.
“Experiencing our faith in this way illuminates its depth and richness,” Reyes stated.
Holy Cross Cemetery grounds staff also played a pivotal role in this spiritual journey, sharing their insights and creating an atmosphere of unity and fellowship. Brian Petrozzino, Foreman at Holy Cross Cemetery, was profoundly moved by the experience.
“As we delved into the various aspects of cemetery operations, the kids were provided with valuable insights into the meticulous planning and care that go into maintaining Holy Cross Cemetery,” said Petrozzino. “Explanations regarding groundskeeping, plot preparation, and landscaping truly captured their attention, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the solemnity and importance of the cemetery’s service.”
Rev. Michael Barone, Chaplain for Holy Cross Cemetery, and Rev. Paul Houlis, Chaplain of Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover, NJ, both meet with families daily to assist them with the most challenging endeavors, including funerals, memorial prayers, and grave blessings, especially around the first anniversary of death or burial.
They also offer spiritual and sacramental support, including Confession, Anointing of the Sick, and other Sacraments for families and visitors. But when the visitors are teens, they can share the stories and experiences that enabled them to lean on their faith, especially during their darkest hours.
“What an extremely powerful moment in my priesthood this was,” said Houlis, who brought several teens to his brother’s grave site at Holy Cross Cemetery. “It was a rare opportunity to witness to them the hope we have in the Resurrection of Christ and heaven. I shared with them that the only thing that helped me get through my brother’s passing is the belief that he truly still lives and that one day I can be reunited with him in heaven.”
Houlis’s sentiment resonated with several teens who had recently lost a grandparent. He also broke bread with them, participated in Eucharistic Adoration, heard their Confessions, and celebrated the closing Mass for them.
“It is clear that these teens truly walked away empowered and encouraged by their experience serving,” Houlis added. “And Catholic Cemeteries played an effective role in that.”
Barone was particularly impressed by the teens’ curiosity and reverence for Catholic burial traditions, adding, “Seeing the birdhouses filled with life all year will serve as a fitting reminder of the hope of Resurrection our Catholic Faith inspires.”
To learn more about Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark, go to www.rcancem.org or email cemetery@rcan.org.
