Two days in the latter half of May invite us to remember our beloved dead. On Thursday, May 22, our archdiocese remembers our seventh archbishop, The Most Rev. Cornelius Power, who died on that date in 1997. The following Monday, May 26, is Memorial Day. This national holiday was established to help us remember those who gave their lives as members of the armed forces during war time, specifically, at the start, the Civil War. But now the focus is broadened as we remember all our deceased loved ones, especially those who may have died in the previous year.

This year’s Mass for our deceased clergy on May 22 will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church in Portland. I am most grateful to Msgr. Timothy Murphy and his parishioners for welcoming us to their house of worship. We used to celebrate that Mass at the cathedral every year. We are now taking advantage of the hospitality of some of the other parishes. In 2006 we were welcomed by Father Richard Sirianni and the people of St. Henry’s Church in Gresham and last year by Father Michael Johnston and his parishioners at St. Thomas More Church in Portland.

Archbishop Power served our archdiocese from 1974 to 1986. His sister, Mary Meyers, still resides in the archdiocese and has attended the Memorial Mass every year together with some of her friends. We take this opportunity to remember all our deceased bishops, priests and deacons, especially those who have died in the preceding twelve months.

During the past year we lost a number of good priests, but no deacons or bishops. The first to die was Father Lawrence Saalfeld, a wonderful pastor and Catholic educator. Next was Father Jeremiah Linehan, whose brother Cornelius is one of our retired priests. Father Jerry likewise served in many parishes as pastor. Father Emil Kies, a priest who spent much of his priestly life in southern Oregon, died at Maryville Nursing Home in early October. Then Father Louis John Breton, a Servite priest at The Grotto of our Sorrowful Mother here in Portland, died in late October. Father Gregory Gage, the former pastor of St. Peter Parish in Newberg, who struggled with Parkinson’s disease in his latter years, died on All Souls Day. He was quickly followed by Father Jim Crunican, priest for 44 years who died two days later. Father Vincent Sampietro, a Paulist priest 94 years of age, whose ministry for the most part was headquartered at St. Philip Neri Parish here in Portland, died in early December. Then we were all saddened and shocked at the accidental death of Father James Nibler, the administrator of St. Peter Parish in Newberg, in late February.

All of these priests are greatly missed by their brother priests, former parishioners, relatives and many friends. I cordially invite those who continue to mourn their loss to join us for the Mass at St. Patrick’s on May 22 at noon. Unfortunately, we often fail to acknowledge our appreciation for those who serve us when they are with us. Because of our belief in the communion of saints, it’s never too late in the Catholic community to say thanks, even after death.

Every Memorial Day I celebrate a Mass out at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Portland. Msgr. Dennis O’Donovan, our Vicar General, offers Mass at Gethsemane Cemetery on Portland’s east side. Many memorial services take place at both religious and civic burial grounds to honor the dead and to comfort the bereaved.

Prayers for the dead are an ancient tradition in the Christian community. They remind us that we remain united with those who’ve gone before us even after death. It’s our way of expressing our support for them as they meet our God and a way of helping them, as one day will be our need too, when they approach the judgment seat of the Lord seeking his mercy and peace. Burial in holy ground is a sign that we respect the dignity of the human body and acknowledge in a very public way our belief in the resurrection of the dead.

Here in the Archdiocese of Portland there are three archdiocesan Catholic Cemeteries, Mount Calvary and Gethsemane in Portland; and Mount Calvary in Eugene. The Director of the Archdiocesan Cemeteries is our Vicar General, Rev. Msgr. Dennis O’Donovan. The Superintendent is Mr. Tim Corbett whose office is located at Mount Calvary on Skyline Blvd. here in Portland. The visit to a cemetery on Memorial Day by the bishop is a tradition in many dioceses across our nation. It gives me an opportunity to pray with those who are rather recently bereaved and with all who come to pray for those who made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in order to preserve our freedom and allow us to enjoy the blessings of citizenship in this great democratic republic.

In November of 2005, upon the recommendation of our priests’ council, I promulgated funeral policies for the archdiocese. Our church earnestly recommends that Catholic people observe the pious custom of burying the bodies of the deceased. Cremation is a legitimate option as long as it is not chosen for purposes that are contrary to our faith. The cremated remains, out of respect for the temple of the Holy Spirit, which a Christian’s body truly becomes through Baptism, should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium. Scattering the remains or keeping them in the home of a relative or friend are not the reverent disposition the church requires.

A recent indult from the Holy See permits the celebration of a funeral Mass after cremation. But, in truth, cremation is akin to burial. Hence, it is more appropriate and fitting for the funeral Mass to be celebrated with the body of the deceased present and for cremation to take place afterwards, as is the case with burial. The ritual for the funeral Mass presumes the presence of the body, but even when the body is absent the church still gathers around the altar to commend the deceased to the Lord and to offer consolation and support to the mourners.

On May 22 and 26, even if you cannot be present for the aforementioned liturgies, please do join me in praying for our deceased loves ones, especially our deceased clergy, all who died in the service of our national well-being and those buried in our Catholic cemeteries. May they rest in peace.