WATCH: Father Mike Schmitz Praises the Sacred Work of Colorado’s Catholic Cemeteries

During a service day during a trip to the Archdiocese of Denver for Steubenville of the Rockies, Father Mike and his group learned what it means to “fill the void of loss with faith” at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery.

(Video by Ascension)

When a loved one passes, there’s a lot that goes on: funeral arrangements, property and inheritance management, family dynamics, strong emotions and powerful grief. Saying it’s a difficult time is an understatement. 

Yet the Church walks into that darkness each and every day, carrying the light of Christ. At Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services of Colorado (CFCS), that service is meant to “fill the void of loss with faith.” 

For the Grieving 

That mission struck Father Mike Schmitz, known for his Bible in a Year podcast, in a particular way during a recent visit to the Archdiocese of Denver for the Steubenville of the Rockies conference. Leading a group of teens from the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota, he sought out a service opportunity in the area. Finding Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Father Schmitz brought his group to live out a Corporal Work of Mercy.  

What he found there, however, struck a far deeper chord. 

In a recent video for Ascension, Father Schmitz shared how important it is to “fill the void of loss with faith,” rather than distraction, destructive behavior, superstition or well wishes. 

“To fill the void of loss with faith connects this pain I’m going through with the reality of God, the truth of who God is. And particularly, the truth of who God is in Jesus Christ,” he shared. “And particularly in the truth of who we are: made in God’s image, redeemed by Jesus Christ, that we all have a destiny, and that destiny is meant to be eternal life with him.”  

Put simply, Father Schmitz said, this mission is important because it reminds us that “God hears our prayers. Even in the midst of your grief, even in the midst of your loss, God is with you. And that’s so powerful and so important.” 

For Those Who Have Died 

But that ministry does not end with those who are grieving, Father Schmitz shared. As impactful as that aspect of CFCS’ ministry was to him, the compassionate care for the deceased struck him all the more. 

During the tour, Father Schmitz said he was led back to the part of the mortuary where the bodies are prepared so that he could pray for them. 

“Walking back, the people who were working and caring for the bodies of these deceased people, it was remarkable. The respect they had for the bodies of those who had died, the care they had for the bodies of those who had died, was remarkable,” he shared. “And it gave me the opportunity to pray for the souls of those who had died.” 

It was clear to him, he said in the Ascension video, that the CFCS team lived what the Church taught about the dignity of the person through the end. Recognizing the profound dignity still present in the bodies of the deceased, they were honored and respected with a dignified burial. 

Works of Mercy 

As they volunteered at Mount Olivet, Father Schmitz and his group were moved, he said, reflecting on the opportunity to serve those who had passed. By cleaning up around the cemetery, they were loving not only those buried there but also those who might come to visit. And if they were the only ones to visit and tidy up, at least the souls of those deceased would have this Duluth group to pray for them. 

Therein lies the age-old wisdom of the Church’s teaching on Christian burial, Father Schmitz shared: we bury the dead in dignified places out of respect for their dignity and ours. By giving them a permanent and holy resting place, they are safe and we have a place to visit and honor them. 

“We believe in the resurrection of the body. How God will do that, mysteriously — yes, he can do all things. He can reconstitute a body or however that’s going to work in the resurrection of the body. He can do that even if someone’s remains have been scattered,” Father Schmitz reflected. “But in the meantime, it’s our responsibility to treat those remains with dignity by placing them in sacred ground. Not by scattering them out of a helicopter or onto a lake or up at a cabin. Burying the dead — not scattering ashes but burying the dead — is a work of mercy. Visiting the dead and praying for the dead is another kind of work of mercy.” 

For those not presented with the logistics of a burial, though, there is a simpler call: visit, pray and respect those who’ve gone before. 

“You might not be in a place where you’re given a choice to cremate or bury or scatter or any of those things. It might not be your choice today. But maybe the next time you go past a cemetery, just realize there are people — bodies of people — who are buried there. They’re laid to rest there. And just say a prayer,” he concluded. “Say a prayer for the repose of their souls. Say a prayer for their loved ones that the Lord fills the void of loss with faith in their lives. And think about your own death, and the fact that one day, where they are, you will be.” 

Local Mission, National Impact 

Father Schmitz’s praise for Mount Olivet and CFCS’ mission in Colorado only evidences the power and the beauty of Catholic cemeteries across the nation. These holy spaces stand as visible reminders of God’s presence among us, even in the difficult and dark moments.  

As CFCS and other Catholic cemeteries accompany families through their grief, praying for those who have died, protecting human remains and witnessing to human dignity, they provide hope to the Church, reminding us always of Jesus’ Resurrection. 

To learn more about Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services of Colorado, visit cfcscolorado.org. 

For more information on CFCS’ national ministry, visit cfcsmission.org.