SAN ANTONIO • Archbishop José H. Gomez blessed land with holy water April 3 at San Fernando Cemetery III that will be home to the new All Saints Chapel Mausoleum, and also celebrated a Mass to commemorate construction of the new Garden Mausoleum addition to Holy Cross Cemetery.
The new $2.5 million structure at San Fernando III, scheduled for completion next year, will provide 1,548 spaces for interment. The chapel, integrated into the design of the building, will give people of all faiths visiting the cemetery a peaceful setting in which to pray and remember their departed loved ones.
At Holy Cross, the new mausoleum will include 805 crypt spaces, of which 266 crypt spaces and 55 niche spaces for cremated remains have already been purchased. It is scheduled to be completed next spring.
At the mid-week liturgy, Archbishop Gomez said in his homily, “Today is a special moment of grace for the families of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. These new buildings are a sign of our ongoing commitment to ensure that our Catholic Cemeteries will provide for the needs of the faithful with faith, love and respect for years to come. When we provide a peaceful and prayerful place of eternal rest for our loved ones, we honor them and God with this final act of charity in providing a loving witness of faith and hope in the resurrection.”
This is the first major construction project being led by the new Catholic Cemeteries management team of Robert M. Cornejo and Robert B. Holbrook.
Cornejo, the new executive director and an Air Force veteran, said he would like all Catholics to see Catholic Cemeteries as their number one choice when the time comes for choosing the final resting place for themselves or those they love. “I want our Catholics to see Catholic Cemeteries as places of faith, love and compassion,” he commented. “They should be proud of these cemeteries, where literally tens of thousands of families entrusted their loved ones. These new mausoleums reflect that vision and are a tangible commitment to the eternal bond between us and the faithful departed.”
Holbrook serves as special projects manager for the archdiocese. He is involved in a variety of responsibilities involving construction, land procurement and operation and maintenance of many of the facilities serving ministries and communities throughout the archdiocese.
In his new role, Catholic Cemeteries serves as a priority. Holbrook is well prepared for that task, as his previous work experience included responsibilities for the expansion, maintenance and repair of 120 existing national cemeteries located throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.
“We must bring all our Catholic Cemeteries up to a standard of excellence that will compare favorably with all other cemeteries — locally and even nationally,” he said. “Today’s groundbreaking for two new mausoleums is a significant step in that direction.”
The new All Saints Chapel Mausoleum’s 1,548 crypts will include 704 single crypt spaces, 760 true companion crypt spaces, 84 in and over crypt spaces; 320 marble front niche spaces and 80 granite front niche spaces for cremated remains. Currently, 96 crypt spaces have been sold. Total construction cost of the structure exceeds $2.5 million.
The new Garden Mausoleum addition at Holy Cross Cemetery, at 17501 Nacogdoches Road, will hold 259 single crypt spaces, 546 true companion crypt spaces and 380 niche spaces. Cost of construction there is expected to be $1.2 million.
Both structures are being built by McClesky Mausoleums of Norcross, Ga. For more information on Catholic Cemeteries, call Robert Cornejo at (210) 432-2304 or e-mail him at robert.cornejo@archsa.org.