HOMEPAGE for this issue: April 13, 2011 Download PDF Version

Altar dedicated for mortuary chapel at Mount Olivet

By John Gleason

On the first Friday of every month, people gather in the mortuary chapel at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Wheat Ridge to attend Mass.  The celebration, which has been going on for years, was first intended for those who had recently lost a loved one who had been buried at Mount Olivet.  But according to Mike Wright, director of Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary and Mount Olivet Cemetery, up to 75 people now regularly attend the monthly Mass.

“The first Friday Masses have been celebrated at the cemetery for more than two decades,” Wright said.  “What we do is notify every family who has recently buried a loved one here at Mount Olivet about it and invite them to come celebrate the Mass with us.  Over the years, we’ve had people who have become regulars at this Mass.”

This month the Mass took on added significance as a recently installed altar was dedicated during the evening celebration. The altar was donated by the first Friday Mass community.

“The group who attend Mass here thought that old altar was looking a bit worn and perhaps it was time to look into getting a new one,” Wright said.  “They went to work to raise the necessary funds.”

Father James ReVello has celebrated first Friday Masses at the cemetery since last July. The priest said he had noticed the old altar had a wobble to it.

“I brought it up to the people that we could do something for our community,” Father ReVello said.  “That was in October.  When I came in November to say the Mass a collection was taken up and within 20 minutes we had the entire amount.”

The new dark-wood altar is a beautiful fit with the chapel décor, according to Wright, who added he was amazed at how quickly the whole project moved forward.

“This is very kind of the people who attend Mass here,” he said. “They saw a need, decided to respond and this is the result.”

The monthly Mass is held every first Friday at 7 p.m. in the mortuary chapel at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 12801 W. 44 Ave., Wheat Ridge.