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The Trustees of St. Patrick’s Cathedral have released the following guidelines for visits to
cemeteries for Mother’s Day, May 10.
The cemeteries entrusted to the Trustees of St. Patrick’s Cathedral have regrettably but necessarily been closed to visitors in order to protect the health and safety of our staff, visitors, and people associated with the increased number of burials we have been privileged to perform in response to the pandemic. Still, we have received a great deal of understandable encouragement to open the cemeteries, particularly for visits this Mother’s Day.
Therefore, the five cemeteries operated by the Trustees of St. Patrick’s Cathedral—Calvary in Woodside, Resurrection on Staten Island, Gate of Heaven in Hawthorne, Ascension in Airmont, and Saint Mary’s in Rye Brook—will be open on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10, for visits. (Note: Parish cemeteries will make their own determinations about whether or not to open, and how to do so.)
Because of ongoing health and safety concerns relating to the pandemic, these rules will be in effect:
Visiting hours on May 10 will be from 9 am to 3 pm.
Family and friends are asked to limit their visits to 15 minutes. Staff at the cemetery entrances may restrict the number of cars allowed in the cemetery at any given time.
Visitors must wear masks and maintain social distance.
Water faucets are turned off and bathrooms are not available.
The chapels are not open at this time.
For graves: please place fresh flowers, potted plants, palms or artificial flowers. No planting, balloons, food or memorabilia, please!
For mausoleum: please place artificial flowers only. No flowers, plants, palms, balloons, food or memorabilia, please! Enter through the main doors and exit at the end of the corridors.
Jogging, biking and dog-walking are prohibited for the safety of visitors and to retain the sacred atmosphere of our cemeteries.
Regrettably, we cannot respond to comments and requests for specific maintenance services at this time.
The cemeteries will close to visitors at 3 pm on May 10. Please check our websites for information on when we can again welcome visitors.
Thank you for you patience and understanding during these challenging times.
