October 14, 2009

Cemetery a sacred space, visible sign of hope in the resurrection

By John Gleason

Heart of the Plains Cemetery dedicates Sacred Heart statue, outdoor altar

Despite overcast skies and steady rain, a crowd of more than 100 faithful huddled under umbrellas at Heart of the Plains Cemetery in Roggen to witness the dedication of an outdoor altar and a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley S.T.L on Oct. 5.

“Our community rejoices as it comes together to bless this altar,” Bishop Conley said as he sprinkled it with holy water. “May it be the table at which we break the bread which gives us life and drink the cup which makes us one.”

Sprinkling holy water over the statue, he blessed it, saying, “Almighty and ever-living God, as we look upon the Sacred Heart of your Son, may we meditate upon the love he poured out for us through the piercing of his heart.”

The altar and the statue are the latest additions to the cemetery, which was dedicated in 2007 noted Sacred Heart Church pastor, Father Hector Chiapa-Villarreal.

“We are very pleased and excited at this celebration going on here today,” he told the Denver Catholic Register.  “It has been a long process, taking many years of hard work, prayer and sacrifice, but now we have a fine granite altar, a beautiful hand-carved marble statue from Italy and Bishop Conley to be part of this day.”

Father Chiapa-Villarreal said Heart of the Plains Cemetery has been an important addition to the rural community, which is located about 60 miles northeast of Denver.

“It’s a parish ministry, one of the specific ways that the parish promotes the message of the Gospel and which brings the love of Christ into the world by providing a sacred space where people will find eternal rest and prepare for the resurrection,” he said.  “It’s a place where people can come for prayer and meditation.”

The 5-acre cemetery has room for more than 2,200 burials, according to Bill Epple, Sacred Heart parishioner and member of the committee that oversaw the creation of the cemetery.

“The idea for Heart of the Plains actually goes back a half-century,” he said.  “There was a lot of talk about the possibility but it wasn’t until five years ago that parishioners Gerald and Alberta Sigg donated land just across the road from the church for the specific purpose of creating a cemetery.  From there it was the work of volunteers who got the ground prepared and then two years ago, it was dedicated.”

The altar and statue are positioned in the middle of the cemetery, which is divided into sections representing the mysteries of the rosary: joyful, luminous, sorrowful and glorious.  A prayer path winds its way around the grounds, highlighted by 20 granite benches, each with one mystery inscribed on it.  Father Chiapa-Villarreal said it is a peaceful place to pray and reflect.

“This community is actually made up of three parishes,” he explained. “Sacred Heart in Roggen, Holy Family in Keenesburg and Our Lady of Lourdes in Wiggins. So even though the cemetery is attached to Sacred Heart, all three parishes are actively involved in this ministry.”

Following the blessing at the cemetery, the congregation processed back to the church where Bishop Conley said Mass.  Father Chiapa-Villarreal, Father Matthew Hartley and former Sacred Heart pastors Father Francisco Garcia and Father Robert Wedow served as concelebrants.

Prior to the Mass, Father Wedow, who was pastor when the land for the cemetery was donated, reflected on the ministry of caring for the dead.

“It’s a way in which we show our real faith and belief in the Scriptures where it talks about how the Lord will open up our graves and have us rise from them,” he said. “We’re entrusted with the sacred care of the body, the temple of the Holy Spirit.”