Calvary Cemetery hosts Memorial Day Mass

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
June 2, 2005

The gentle rolling hills of Calvary Cemetery in Sioux City was the site of an outdoor Memorial Day Mass celebrated by Msgr. Richard Zenk, executive secretary of the cemetery. More than 300 people were on hand for the May 30 liturgy.

A tent was set up for the celebration near the graves of deceased bishops of the Diocese of Sioux City. Father Mike Erpelding, co-pastor at St. Boniface Parish in Sioux City, concelebrated and the Knights of Columbus provided an honor guard for the celebration.

In his homily, Msgr. Zenk reminded those present that they gathered for Mass to pray for all of the military people who gave their lives for the freedom enjoyed by the people in this country. He added that it was also a time to remember and pray for all of their deceased family members, relatives and friends who have gone before them.

"This is surely to be a special place for prayer, for remembrance and for peaceful reflection on the purpose of our lives on earth," he said.

He pointed out that a Catholic cemetery is established to provide a fitting resting-place for departed brothers and sisters, and to provide blessed space - for prayer and peace - where those who mourn can find comfort.

"A Catholic cemetery is established to perform a corporal work of mercy, to bury the dead," said Msgr. Zenk. "The Catholic cemetery exists to provide not only a fitting final resting place for the dead, but also to be a sign of our faith in the resurrection of the body on the last day."

He mentioned that the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that those who die in God's grace and friendship - and are perfectly purified - enter immediately the gates of heaven. Those who are not perfectly purified go to purgatory for a period of purification.

"We believe as Catholics that we can assist these departed brothers and sisters in purgatory by our prayers, sacrifices and Masses for their intentions," said Msgr. Zenk. "And this we do this morning - at this Mass - for the souls in purgatory."

An outdoor Memorial Day Mass has been celebrated at the cemetery for about 40 years. For several of the people, who attended this year, the liturgy has become a family tradition.

Rita Whitmore of Sioux City, a parishioner at Immaculate Conception Church, said she has been attending this Mass since she was a child. Several relatives are buried in the cemetery - grandfather, great-grandmother, uncles and friends. Her family has attended the liturgy for 35 years.

"I have been attending the Mass since 1994," said Julie Tipler of Sioux City. That is the year her husband died and was buried there. Her late husband, Gerald C. Tipler, was a WWII vet, serving in the Pacific.

Through the years, she has attended the Memorial Day Mass with her daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Deacon Jary Lester. The Lesters noted that they have been going to the liturgy since 1975. Jary's first wife - Kathleen Roepke Lester - is buried in the cemetery.

"We grew up going to Minnesota, decorating the graves of our grandparents. My Mom and Dad would always take us up there," said Linda Lester. "This is a continuation of that tradition." Memorial Day has always been significant in their family.

The Mass at Calvary has also been a tradition for Wanda Thibodeau, a parishioner at St. Boniface in Sioux City. Her parents and daughter are buried in the cemetery as well as her husband's parents and some of his aunts and uncles. They have been attending the Mass for about 20 years.

"It is an opportunity to come out and honor our dead relatives and the people who have died to keep us safe," she said. "It's such a nice ceremony - to actually have a Mass for all of these people who are no longer with us. It's so peaceful to come out here and say hello to them again."

Along with the Mass, they honor their relatives by decorating their graves a few days prior to the celebration.