By EmmaLee Italia | Contributing Editor

Deacon David O’Connor, the new diocesan Director for the Department of Catholic Cemeteries, is particularly adamant about one thing pertaining to funerals of the faithful – getting the word out about the beauty inherent in the Catholic rite, and how it ministers to both the deceased and those who mourn them.

“That’s part of the evangelization: you want to be buried with a community of believers,” Deacon O’Connor emphasized. “The Catholic Church has always treated the deceased members with the utmost respect and the cemetery is where that belief is clearly practiced, adding beauty through rich spirituality.”

“The Catholic Committal Rite is beautiful and allows us once again to pray for not just the deceased member, but, for all community of believers resting together in peace,” he continued. “We’re praying for the happy repose of their soul and all the souls of the faithful departed.”

When a new Catholic cemetery is created, the Bishop (or sometimes a priest appointed by him) will come out to bless it and hallow the ground where the deceased members will be buried.

“The Bishop walks around the entire cemetery, sprinkling holy water on the ground,” Deacon O’Connor explained. “During that time, these words are said: ‘Purify me with hyssop, Lord, and I shall be clean of sin. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.’ The Bishop says two prayers from the Roman Ritual, purifying the cemetery from all evil, making it a sacred place until the end of time and recalling the mercy of God while praying for all who will be buried there.

Deacon O’Connor noted enthusiastically, “These prayers are beautiful as well as being very important, emphasizing the sacredness of a cemetery, a place similar in dignity to a church. It reminds us that cemeteries are set apart for a sacred purpose and should be treated as such.”

With more than 31 Catholic cemeteries across the Diocese, many of them associated with specific parishes, Deacon O’Connor is looking to offer them support through the Department of Catholic Cemeteries, while giving people a central contact point when it comes to choosing a Catholic place of repose–whether with their parish or at one of the beautiful diocesan cemeteries located throughout the Diocese or soon to be diocesan cemeteries.

Deacon O’Connor shared Canon Law, which states, “Where possible, the Church is to have its own cemeteries for the deceased members of the faithful and properly blessed. If this cannot be achieved, however, then individual graves are to be properly blessed.”

Typically, the diocesan cemeteries are larger, including St. Mary Cemetery and Mausoleum, Trenton, and Jesus Bread of Life Cemetery, Mount Laurel – with one of the largest Mausoleums in our area – which is open for ground burials, inurnments, and entombments as the mausoleum was recently completed. A ceremonial grand opening for the mausoleum is planned soon.

“The stained-glass windows being planned in Jesus Bread of Life Mausoleum will tell a story, and family members will get more out of the experience of visiting by seeing the story they tell,” he said. Deacon O’Connor also mentioned a new diocesan cemetery planned for Jackson, which will incorporate a mausoleum, burial plots and columbaria, with hopes to break ground next year.

Currently assigned to St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Marlton, as well as supporting St. Theresa Parish, Little Egg Harbor, Deacon O’Connor was ordained to the permanent diaconate in 2007. He spent more than 30 years in the biopharmaceutical industry, serving in various leadership and transition team positions with startup biotech companies. He holds a bachelor’s degree and commercial pilot flight instructor rating through the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as certification as one of the first tri-state area flight paramedics with University Medevac during the early 1980s, following graduate studies in healthcare.

“My love for aviation coupled with my experience as a flight medic allowed me to fulfill my father’s hope – to ‘do something with your life that will serve others’ – by serving some of the most critically ill, joining rapid air transport and cutting-edge medical care,” Deacon O’Connor said.

He served on the Biomedical Training Advisor Board, American Red Cross, Washington D.C., where he was awarded the Clara Barton Honor Award for Meritorious Leadership in Service to others. Deacon O’Connor serves on the Advisory Council for Jewish Family and Children Services of South Jersey, and previously served on the President’s Council for St. Augustine Preparatory School, Richland. He and his wife of 34 years, Kathleen, live in Galloway Township, and have two adult children, Regan and Julia.