Diocese of Covington - The Catholic Cemeteries Office at 947 Donaldson Road, Erlanger, KY 41018-0548 US - Home

Of the Cemetery

 I visited Washington, D.C. and New York City chaperoning my son's class trip. This whirlwind tour took us to the White House, The Capitol, The Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, The Air and Space Museum, Mount Vernon as well to many spectacular sights in New York.

At the end of the trip nearly every child said that the most memorable stop on our trip was either Arlington National Cemetery or the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial. Young people do not generally have much experience with death. It was interesting that these two places impressed them so strongly.

From the eternal flame  at President Kennedy' grave to the Tomb of the Unknow Soldier to acres of simple grave makers precisely aligned, Arlington National Cemetery truly inspires. The Vietnam Veternans' Memorial is the most powerful and emotional work of art I have experienced.

Inspiring places don't just happen, of course. They are created through intelligent design. They are maintained with devoted care.

We have many inspiring places in our Catholic Cemeteries- Calvary Hill at St. Stephen, the Priests' Lot and Crucifixion Sculpture at St. John, the old monuments and the  chapel mausoleum at St.Mary. And the new Communion of Saints  chapel mausoleum at St. Stephen. A special inspiration comes from the burial places of our families.

Day by day, year by year the efforts of the people working and caring for our cemeteries make the Catholic Cemeteries inspiring and holy places.

Jack Nienaber

Director of Cemeteries