De profundis

Yesterday after the Sung Mass we rented a minivan and a car and 12 of us with the rector drove out to the Rockland Cemetery in Sparkill, NY, about 21 miles up the Hudson off the Palisades. It was a beautiful if very warm day and we were thankful that the St. Ignatius section was mercifully shaded by a very tall oak tree with branches that seemed like arms upraised to heaven. After visiting all the graves, we had a short prayer service in front of Fr. Ritchie's grave. It was well nigh time we paid a visit to the place as it had been 11 years since the last burial there. The large crucifix at the entrance needs repairing and some stones had fallen over but otherwise it looked pretty good even with no regular care. It was almost 3:00 by the time we made our way over to Piermont for a very welcome lunch at The Turning Point, which was just the perfect place even with the loud music going on underneath us. On the way back we drove down Broadway from the GW Bridge and said a prayer for the Zabriskies in the Trinity Uptown cemetery as we passed.

While at the cemetery we were also able to pick up the memorial stones from our monument engraver from Nyack for three parishioners that have died and are awaiting final interment in our columbarium at the church, so now we can finally get poor Carolyn into her niche after three long years of waiting in the pantry.

Almighty God, who has knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant, we beseech thee, to thy whole Church in paradise and on earth, thy light and thy peace. Amen.