Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
From the moment of our Baptism, we are united to the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and incorporated into His Body, the Church. Marked with the Sign of the Cross and sealed with the Holy Spirit, we begin a lifelong journey of faith that leads us toward our heavenly home. Along this pilgrimage, we encounter sacred places that remind us of God’s presence and His promise of eternal life.
Among these sacred places are our Catholic cemeteries. More than resting places for the dead, they are sanctuaries of prayer, faith, and hope. They proclaim the Gospel truth that life is changed, not ended, and that those who die in Christ remain united to us in the communion of saints.
Gate of Heaven Cemetery is one such sacred sanctuary within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Here, we honor life on sacred ground. In this holy place, we fulfill the corporal work of mercy of burying the dead, and we gather to pray for those who have gone before us in faith while asking their prayers for us.
The reverent burial of the body, and the proper entombment or burial of cremated remains, reflects our belief in the dignity of every human person and our hope in the resurrection of the body. Just as the disciples laid the body of Our Lord in the tomb, so the Church lovingly commits her faithful departed to consecrated ground, awaiting the day of Christ’s return.
A Catholic cemetery is a continuation of the sacramental life that began at the baptismal font. Nourished through the Eucharist and strengthened by the sacraments, the Christian journey finds its earthly completion in the Rite of Committal. The cemetery stands as a witness to that journey and to our enduring communion with Christ and one another.
Throughout the year, Gate of Heaven Cemetery gathers the faithful for Mass, prayer, and remembrance. It remains a place of peace and consolation where families encounter God’s mercy and renew their hope in the resurrection.
I invite you and your family to discover the spiritual beauty of Gate of Heaven Cemetery, a sacred place where faith is strengthened, loved ones are remembered, and the promise of eternal life is proclaimed.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Robert G. Casey
Archbishop of Cincinnati
