Catholic cemeteries are holy places of prayer and remembrance.
Why should I choose to be buried in a Catholic cemetery?
First and foremost, Catholic cemeteries are a vital part of our Church’s heritage of caring for and burying the bodies of the dead in blessed ground — one of the corporal works of mercy.
Since our cemetery is an extension of the ministry provided in our parish community, our Catholic Cemetery is a place of gathering, remembrance, consolation and mutual support. The Eucharist will be celebrated on Memorial Day to emphasize our faith in the Risen Lord. Through the Church’s teachings, we are led to a deep respect for our physical remains. It is our mission as a Catholic community in town to provide a suitable place of rest for our beloved departed; a consecrated area for reflection and a place for mourners to experience peace and spiritual comfort.
Choosing a Catholic cemetery as a final resting place is a statement of your belief that, even in death, the people of God await the resurrection of the body and everlasting life. Your Catholic cemetery gives you a place where your loved ones can come to remember you and all generations past and future.
Saint Denis cemetery is reputed to have originated as a Protestant Cemetery, however, it is recorded in 1890 the land was donated to the Catholic society via H.C. Newell, 3 acres of the old Fairbanks Farm, now known as Kelton Road. Many grave sites date back to the late 1800s to early 1900s. The Cemetery accommodates traditional casket interment and cremated remains.
Most veterans buried here are from The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army (United States Army), Union Navy (U.S. Navy), Marines and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866, the G.A.R. promoted voting rights for Negro veterans, as many white veterans recognized their demonstrated patriotism and sacrifices, providing one of the first racially integrated social/fraternal organizations in America. The G.A.R. became among the first organized advocacy groups in American politics, supporting voting rights for black and white veterans alike, promoting patriotic education, helping to make Memorial Day a national holiday and lobbying the United States Congress to establish regular veterans' pensions.
Contact information:
Cemetery Director
Deacon Richard Des Jardins
978-343-6367
[email protected]
Parish Office
978-827-5806