Spiritual Advisor
Rev. Darrell Kostiha
Chairperson
Rita Kleypas
254.913.7245
[email protected]
Committee Members
Sylvia Heise
Larry J. Hoelscher
Edward Meyer
Doris Voltin
St. Mary’s Cemetery lies west of the Church of the Visitation and is the final resting place of about 1,400 parishioners and their families. In the center of the cemetery towers a bronze statue of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, imported from France. It was a gift from several pioneer families and erected in 1908.
The first recorded death in the cemetery is August of 1884. Henry, the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Lenz, died and was put to rest in a grave singlehandedly dug by H. T. Rabroker, a young pioneer.
During the 1900 epidemic of cholera in the parish, many babies died. Rev. Michael Heintzelman obtained a statue of the Virgin Mary cradling the dead Jesus after the crucifixion. The "Pieta", meaning pity or compassion, was sculpted by Michelangelo in 1499. It remains one of his more enduring works and is said to be his only signed creation. Novenas to the Sorrowful Mother of Jesus were begun as soon as the statue arrived, and shortly afterward the cholera ceased. The epidemic left its toll on the small Westphalia community. The "Pieta" burned in our tragic fire July 29, 2019.
St. Mary’s Cemetery is the resting place of several priests: Rev. Michael Heintzelman, Rev. Otto Bauer, Msgr. Robert Schertz, and Rev. Robert Frei and Rev. Andrew Didner, two parish sons who were ordained to the priesthood.
Bylaws
St. Mary’s Cemetery Council
Church of the Visitation Parish; Westphalia, Texas
Article I
St. Mary’s Cemetery is a Catholic cemetery.
Article II
St. Mary’s Cemetery Council is made up of not less than five members appointed by the Pastor. The Pastor is ex officio the president of the council and appoints one member to serve as vice-president and another member to serve as secretary-treasurer. The council has the responsibility for the management of the cemetery, in compliance with the guidelines issued by the Diocese of Austin. Management includes planning and development, operations and maintenance, recordkeeping, transactions, interments, and investment of perpetual-care funds. Any exception, addition or change to the existing articles is subject to a majority vote of the council or notification from Austin.
Article III
All cemetery property is owned by the Diocese of Austin.
Article IV
The family of the deceased is responsible for maintaining curbs, gravestones (either flat or upright), grave “cave-ins”, having decorative rock placement, flower placement and removal. No live plants are allowed with the exception of new graves.
The erection of headstones, monuments, markers, and other structures is subject to the discretion of the Pastor. In using this discretion, he is to keep in mind the sacredness of the consecrated area. Statues, replicas, or pictures are to be of a religious nature, unless the Pastor determines, for pastoral reasons, non-religious items are appropriate.
Families will be subject to the judgement of the council when intervention is deemed necessary to maintain the sacredness and appearance of the cemetery. Written notice will be given and reasonable time allocated for compliance.
The East Section of the cemetery (located behind the Old School and Convent) is subject to the responsibility listed in the paragraphs above and also the following:
Ecclesiastical funerals and thus burial in the cemetery is offered to current parishioners or persons who have ancestors buried in the cemetery if they meet one or more of the criteria below:
baptized Catholics or catechumens (including non-Catholic spouses and dependent children of that particular baptized Catholic)
children who died before baptism whose parents intended to baptize
baptized persons enrolled in a non-Catholic church or ecclesial community
Article VI
Although the church earnestly recommends that the custom of burying the bodies of the deceased is observed, interment by means of cremation is allowed unless cremation is chosen for reasons contrary to Christian doctrine. Cremated remains are treated with the same respect given to corporeal remains and are entombed in a mausoleum, columbarium, or buried in a grave.
Article VII
Parishioners (persons who are contributing members of the Church of the Visitation and not on the paid-up list) will pay a one-time fee of $250.00 per grave, regardless of age, at the time of death. A surviving spouse or surviving parents of a dependent child may reserve a grave for $250.00 each at that time.
Non-parishioners (persons who are not members of the Church of the Visitation and not on the paid-up list) will pay a one-time fee of $1,000.00 per grave at the time of death. A surviving spouse or surviving parents of a dependent child may reserve a grave for $1,000.00 each at that time.
All fees must be paid at the time of burial.
Revised March 1, 2024
Funeral Guidelines
Church of the Visitation, Westphalia, TX