Catholic cemetery professionals visit, take notes
Catholic cemetery professionals, some from as far away as Canada and Guam, visited Calvary Catholic Cemetery recently for a site visit and tour. Sponsored by the Catholic Cemetery Conference, the group was part of the 2013 Smaller Cemetery Seminar which convened in Tampa April 18-20.
Father Ralph Argentino, Director of Cemeteries for the Diocese of St. Petersburg, and assistant director, Terry Young, led a tour of the grounds and facilities and discussed the physical and spiritual aspects of cemetery. There was a lot of note taking and photo snapping by the attentive participants. “Pictures,” explained Lynda Yelenovsky with Holy Redeemer Cemetery in the Diocese of Metuchen, NJ, “are a great way to share ideas with the officials of our cemetery.”
Robert Sabo, Director of Maintenance at Calvary, spoke to the group about grave layout and the use of a cave-in box for in-ground burials. Afterward, John Deere Company sponsored an equipment showcase featuring pieces of equipment particularly suitable for cemetery maintenance.
Before boarding their bus for the return to Tampa and a Closing Reception and Dinner, Msgr. William Baver, Director of Cemeteries for the Diocese of Allentown, celebrated Mass in the Chapel of the Resurrection for the participants.
At left, Irene Lazaroski, Director of Meetings and Education for the Catholic Cemetery Conference and Msgr. William Baver, Director of Cemeteries for the Diocese of Allentown, and participants of the 2013 Smaller Cemetery Seminar, pose for a photograph during a Site Visit and Tour at Calvary Catholic Cemetery on April 20.
Terry Young, Assistant Director of Cemeteries for the Diocese of St. Petersburg, leads a bus tour of participants during the 2013 Smaller Cemetery Seminar’s site tour of Calvary Catholic Cemetery.
Father Ralph Argentino, Director of Cemeteries for the Diocese of St. Petersburg, explains the Month’s Mind Mass, which is celebrated on the last Thursday of every month in the Chapel of the Resurrection, to a group with the Smaller Cemetery Seminar’s Site Visit and Tour.
Young explains the popularity of a corner couch space at the newest mausoleum building at Calvary during the walking tour.
During the walking tour, Young explains how the ground’s crew adds Bahia grass seed during the winter months in order to maintain the pristine appearance of the lawns.
Participants look over one of the in-ground burial areas at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.
Participants of the Smaller Cemetery Seminar’s Site Visit and Tour walk the grounds at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.
Participants of the Smaller Cemetery Seminar’s Site Visit and Tour take notes and make photographs of the priests’ burial section at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.
Father Argentino shares a light anectdote with tour participants about Bishop Charles McLaughlin, while visiting the grave of the first bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg.
Robert Sabo, Director of the Grounds at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, speaks to members of the Smaller Cemetery Seminar about grave location, layout and digging with a cave-in box.
Calvary Catholic Cemetery’s receptionist, Stephanie Walley, and Dan Gallagher with Gesthsemani Cemetery in the Diocese of Toledo, test drive a John Deere XVU-550 utility vehicle during the equipment showcase.
Keith Hoverstad, Manager of Government Sales for John Deere, talks about equipment selection for smaller cemeteries during the equipment showcase at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.
Smart phones were popular means for participants of the Smaller Cemetery Seminar to record ideas and impressions during the Calvary Catholic Cemetery Site Visit and Tour.
One of the participants gets a closer look at a piece of equipment on display during the showcase.
John Deere’s Keith Hoverstad demonstrates one of his company’s small tractors.
Dennis Fairbank, Executive Director of the Catholic Cemetery Conference, makes a photograph during the Equipment Showcase presented by John Deere Co.
Joshua Perez, the Executive Director of the Cemeteries of Guam, Archdiocese of Agana, appears pleased with his hands-on demonstration of one of the riding mowers during the Equipment Showcase.
Andy Goya, at right, shows some of the participants one of John Deere’s small utility vehicles.
Four participants take a spin around the reserve portion of Calvary Catholic Cemetery in John Deere’s XVU-550 all-terrain vehicle.