BLESSING THE CORNERSTONE—Bishop Frank J. Caggiano blessed the cornerstone on the new St. Catherine of Siena Mausoleum in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery on Wednesday, October 5 during a brief ceremony in Trumbull.
“Congratulations to all who played a role in this great achievement that will stand for years. This is a monument to the Catholic faith and a place of great beauty, prayer and reflection, It’s a place to pray in peace and solace for our loved ones,” said the bishop.
Dean Gestal, executive director of Catholic Cemeteries, welcomed the invited guests including pastors and deacons of nearby parishes, funeral directors, diocesan leaders, cemetery staff, and others who gathered for brief remarks before the Blessing. He thanked everyone for working through the Coronavirus pandemic and supply chain problems to complete the mausoleum.
The bishop then stepped outside on a rainy day and assisted by Deacon Pat Toole, chancellor of the Diocese, and Joe McCurdy, cemeteries director of operations, blessed the cornerstone and thanked all for attending.
Workers are still putting the finishing touches on the mausoleum that will includes Choose from 600 fully body crypts and 500 cremation plus niches. Four Trumbull parish “wings” chapel sections are included in the Mausoleum including Christ the King, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Theresa and St. Stephen. There is an Italian marble statue of the Risen Christ in the foyer, and an open atrium in the center of the Mausoleum which is surrounded by with Terrazzo flooring and custom built benches for visiting with loved ones. Multi-colored glass mosaics of the eight Beatitudes surround the atrium which connects to the St. Monica Mausoleum via a glass walkway.
The St. Catherine of Siena Mausoleum will be open to visitors following the All Souls Day Mass to be celebrated by Bishop Caggiano on November 2, 11 am in the Mausoleum located at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 1056 Daniels Farm Road in Trumbull. Monitors, seating and facilities will be provided and carnations and bottles of Lourdes holy water will be distributed at the conclusion of the celebration. The Mass is held rain or shine. An outdoor tent, seating and facilities will be provided.
For more information or inquiries, visit www.stcatherinemaus.com, call: 203.742.1450, ext 155 or email: info@ctcemeteries.org.
