Archbishop Blesses St. Gertrude Cemetery's New Chapel Mausoleum

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The grand opening of a new mausoleum signifies an incredibly joyous and humbling experience for the families building heritage at St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia, New Jersey. The event is equally extraordinary for Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark in completing the majestic chapel mausoleum years in the making, despite the challenges of a global pandemic.

On Monday, May 31, 2021, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, celebrated a Mass commemorating Memorial Day within the new Chapel Mausoleum of the Resurrection at St. Gertrude Cemetery and Mausoleum in the Woodbridge Township of Middlesex County, NJ.

The Mass honors those serving in the United States Military, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. During the live stream, Cardinal Tobin blessed and dedicated the altar within the newly constructed chapel. The blessing and dedication of the altar is a relatively rare occurrence since altars are only consecrated once after being built.

During his homily, Cardinal Tobin reflected on the significance of the new mausoleum and how it will serve Catholics for generations to come.

“I think the desire to be remembered lives within our genetic makeup. It’s the age-old reason why people carve their initials into trees, place their hands in cement, and chalk their names on rocks,” says Tobin. “They want to leave their mark. They want to be remembered. But for the living, the real marks they leave are the ones that have been left on us – a hug, a smile, a wise word of counsel. Timely advise. We want to remember those we have loved and lost, not only for them, but also, perhaps as importantly, for ourselves to mend, to heal, to live, and never to forget.”

Tobin described the altar as the “heart of this dormitorium,” drawing a contrast between the hopeless pagan graveyards of ancient Rome known as necropolis or “city of the dead” and the faith-filled resting place of Christians awaiting the resurrection that would undoubtedly come.

“The beauty of this mausoleum will help us remember the faithfulness of God and point our eyes, albeit filled with tears, towards a future and certain reunion,” Tobin explains. “And the sacrifice that we will celebrate after we bless the altar will open our eyes towards the one who has not abandoned us – the conqueror of sin and death, as we recognize him in the breaking of the bread.”

Concelebrants included auxiliary bishops Manuel A. Cruz, D.D., Episcopal Vicar for Essex County; Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B., Episcopal Vicar for Union County; and Gregory J. Studerus, Episcopal Vicar for Hudson County.

Additional concelebrants included Rev. Msgr. Richard F. Groncki; Rev. Thomas Dente; Rev. Michael Barone, Chaplain of Catholic Cemeteries; and Reverend Joseph Ferraro, Pastor of Holy Family Parish in Nutley/Belleville. Other clergies in attendance included Sister Donna L. Ciangio, O.P., Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Newark, and Rev. Jason Makarow, Priest Secretary to the Cardinal.

After the Cardinal blessed the mausoleum walls and attendees with holy water, he anointed the altar with Chrism oil, rubbing the mixture of olive oil and balsam perfume as he prayed. In the interim, Cantor Andrea Lipinski performed a glorious rendition of the hymn “Look Kindly Now, O God, Our Shield.” John Miller, Director of Music Ministries for the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, filled the mausoleum with the rich, colorful sounds of piano and other ear-pleasing instruments throughout the Mass.

The altar will serve families during committal services when they inter their loved ones in the mausoleum. Availing himself of the salvific grace flowing from the Mass, Andrew Schafer, Executive Director of the Office of Catholic Cemeteries, allowed his senses to connect mind, body, and soul with the Holy Spirit in the moment.

“As I dried off the altar of excess Chrism oil, I realized I was witnessing and experiencing the dedication and blessing of the altar in a graced moment in time,” explains Schafer, who, together with Joseph Verzi, Assistant Executive Director, worked in unison to complete the ritual. “The feel and smell of the Chrism oil from the altar will stay with me for a lifetime.”

While Cardinal Tobin consecrated the altar and mausoleum with frankincense, incense smoke slowly emanated upward. Embracing the sun rays piercing through the mausoleum’s skylight and the altar’s stained-glass dome, the fusion of smoke and lights created a glowing aura and kaleidoscope of exuberant colors over the altar, mesmerizing attendees.

Inspiring Liturgical Works of Art

The new St. Gertrude Chapel Mausoleum of the Resurrection features 18 world-class works of art, 2,300 marble front crypts, and 2,500 glass and marble niches. In addition, the church-like mausoleum design includes two chapel areas – one for traditional committal services, another for cremated human remains - the first in archdiocesan history to feature a unique chapel exclusively for cremation niches.

The handcrafted marble and bronze altar is located beneath a 100-year-old, 12-foot Tiffany-style stained-glass dome highlighting the Holy Spirit and biblical icons. This captivating work of art saved from the former All Saints Church in Jersey City suspends from a marble structure.

The elegant crypt and cremation alcoves feature beautiful 12-foot stained-glass windows reclaimed from the former St. Mark’s Church in Rahway, NJ, depicting various saints. These stained-glass artworks were rescued and restored through the archdiocesan Artwork Preservation Program.

Additionally, new artworks include a brilliantly colored, 14-foot stained-glass window of Jesus ascending to heaven, and a glorious marble altar, featuring intricately designed bronze figures of Mary and the 12 Apostles during Pentecost designed by Progretto Arte Poli. This art studio in Verona, Italy, is known for producing artworks for the Holy See at the Vatican Gardens, the Apostolic Palace, and the Diocese of Rome’s St. John Lateran Basilica.

The alcoves also feature remarkable handcrafted wooden statues of the four evangelists, St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John, commissioned from Demetz Art Studio in Ortisei, Italy.

Following in the Easter artwork theme throughout St. Gertrude Cemetery, a breathtaking, 14-foot statue of the Resurrected Christ, made from Italian Carrara marble, stands triumphant outside the main entrance of the new mausoleum.

Elsewhere on the cemetery grounds, Catholic Cemeteries has installed other liturgical art to inspire and uplift visitors, including a magnificent new marble Rondanini Pietà statue of Mary holding Jesus after His crucifixion located outside the Chapel Mausoleum of the Crucifixion. This Pietà statue carved from the same marble quarry Michelangelo carved his original Pietà masterpiece is one of only two Pietà statues like it in the world.

Finally, there is a 14-foot bronze statue at the central entrance to the cemetery, also designed by Progretto Arte Poli, depicting the baptism of Jesus Christ by St. John the Baptist in the Jordan River. The design features a glistening, blue glass infused into the bronze to represent baptism water flowing from the head of Jesus onto a magnificent stone foundation quarried in Italy. Light passing through the blue glass changes with the movement of the sun. And the porous appearance of the stone foundation is indicative of a large river stone weathered over hundreds of years.

“We keep the faith alive by creating a sacred place where families pray and reflect,” Schafer emphasizes. “This is how we help family members, today and future generations, honor the memories of their loved ones, and celebrate our Lord’s most precious gifts – life, the sacraments, Mass, and the resurrection.”

Schedule Your Grand Tour

To schedule a free appointment to see the mausoleum’s magnificent artworks and to discuss burial or cemetery arrangements with a caring and professional Memorial Planning Advisor without any obligation, visit www.rcancem.org to fill out our online form. Pre-planning minimizes the stress that comes with having to make crucial decisions at that difficult time. Gain peace of mind and significant savings. Pre-plan today.

About Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark

The caring and dedicated staff at Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark ministers to the spiritual needs of individuals and families before, at the time of, and after the loss of a loved one. This includes caring assistance with cemetery planning before death, compassionate support at the time of loss, facilitating a loved one’s interment in a holy place, support throughout bereavement, and perpetual cemetery care thereafter. For more information, visit www.rcancem.org.

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