Cardinal Tobin to celebrate Memorial Day Mass via livestream from St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia

Archbishop to bless mausoleum and dedicate chapel’s altar

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, will celebrate a Mass commemorating Memorial Day within the new Chapel Mausoleum of the Resurrection at St. Gertrude Cemetery and Mausoleum in Colonia, NJ, on Monday, May 31, beginning at 11 am.

The Mass honors those serving or who have served in the United States Military, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

While Mass attendance is restricted at all archdiocesan cemeteries this Memorial Day due to COVID-19, all are welcome to join via livestream on the Archdiocese of Newark or Catholic Cemeteries YouTube channel.

During the livestream, Cardinal Tobin will also dedicate the altar within the newly-constructed chapel. This dedication is a relatively rare occurrence since altars are only consecrated once after being constructed.

“How fitting to honor our military personnel as we dedicate this beautiful altar and remember in prayer the men and women who died while in the military service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of their wounds sustained in battle,” said Andrew P. Schafer, Executive Director of Catholic Cemeteries, Archdiocese of Newark.

Those watching the live stream will discover the new St. Gertrude Chapel Mausoleum of the Resurrection, unveiled recently, featuring 18 world-class works of art, 2,300 marble front crypts, and 2,500 glass and marble niches. The church-like mausoleum design includes two chapel areas – one for traditional committal services, another for cremated human remains – the first in archdiocesan history to feature a unique chapel exclusively for cremation niches.

The altar features handcrafted, intricately-designed bronze statues of Mary and the 12 Apostles during Pentecost. (Photo courtesy of Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark)

The handcrafted marble and bronze altar is located beneath a 100-year-old, 12-foot Tiffany-style stained-glass dome highlighting the Holy Spirit and biblical icons. This captivating work of art saved from the former All Saints Church in Jersey City suspends from a marble structure.

The elegant crypt and cremation alcoves feature beautiful 12-foot stained-glass windows reclaimed from the former St. Mark’s Church in Rahway, NJ, depicting various saints. These stained-glass artworks were rescued and restored through the archdiocesan Artwork Preservation Program.

Additionally, new artworks include a brilliantly colored, 14-foot stained-glass window of Jesus ascending to heaven, and a glorious marble altar, featuring intricately designed bronze figures of Mary and the 12 Apostles during Pentecost designed by Progretto Arte Poli. This art studio in Verona, Italy, is known for producing artworks for the Holy See at the Vatican Gardens, the Apostolic Palace, and the Diocese of Rome’s St. John Lateran Basilica.

The alcoves also feature remarkable handcrafted wooden statues of the four evangelists, St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John, commissioned from Demetz Art Studio in Ortisei, Italy.

“What a blessing for us to have such beautiful artwork in our Archdiocese to help us remember and reflect on the promise of the Resurrection and our deceased loved ones,” Schafer added.

Following in the Easter artwork theme throughout St. Gertrude Cemetery, a breathtaking, 14-foot statue of the Resurrected Christ, made from Italian Carrara marble, stands triumphant outside the main entrance of the new mausoleum.

Elsewhere on the cemetery grounds, Catholic Cemeteries has installed other liturgical art to inspire and uplift visitors, including a magnificent new marble Rondanini Pietà statue of Mary holding Jesus after His crucifixion located outside the Chapel Mausoleum of the Crucifixion. This Pietà statue carved from the same marble quarry Michelangelo carved his original Pietà masterpiece is one of only two Pietà statues like it in the world.

A beautiful, 14-foot stained-glass window depicting Jesus ascending to heaven overlooks some of the 2,500 cremation niches. (Photo courtesy of Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark)

Finally, there is a 14-foot bronze statue at the central entrance to the cemetery, also designed by Progretto Arte Poli, depicting the baptism of Jesus Christ by St. John the Baptist in the Jordan River. The design features a glistening, blue glass infused into the bronze to represent baptism water flowing from the head of Jesus onto a magnificent stone foundation quarried in Italy. Light passing through the blue glass changes with the movement of the sun. And the porous appearance of the stone foundation is indicative of a large river stone weathered over hundreds of years.

Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark will also honor veterans interred at archdiocesan cemeteries by placing more than 1,000 American flags at their graves. Those flags will fly from Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, 2021, through Flag Day, Monday, June 14, 2021. American flags fly daily throughout the year in designated areas at all archdiocesan cemeteries to pay tribute to fallen heroes, veterans, and those currently serving.

To view the Memorial Day Mass livestream, go to www.rcancem.org and click the YouTube icon in the top right corner of the website or click the links provided at the webpage www.rcancem.org/MemorialDayMass2021.

On Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, the Chapel Mausoleum of the Resurrection will be open to the public after the Mass from 2 pm – 4:30 pm.

To schedule a free, no-obligation appointment to see these unique artworks up close and discuss burial or cemetery arrangements with a Memorial Planning Advisor, visit www.rcancem.org.