Marker of remembrance

Council of Catholic Women members bury capsule on spiritual grounds

FC | LINDA REEVES
Stanton Cadow, development director at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, helps members of the Council of Catholic Women prepare a capsule moments before it is placed in seminary grounds on All Souls Day.

LINDA REEVES | FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF

Posted: 11.28.09

BOYNTON BEACH | With appropriate ceremonies by Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito, and in the presence of an assemblage of prayerful women, a capsule with the names of more than 3,000 loved ones was buried All Souls Day on the grounds of St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary. A banyan tree labeled the “Remembrance Tree,” stands as a marker for the capsule and memorial to those who have died.

“My husband’s parents and my parents (names) are included in the capsule,” said Mary Roff, a parishioner of St. Peter in Jupiter, who was among the prayerful at the capsule burial with her husband, George. “To me, the seminary has a special meaning.”

The Palm Beach Diocesan Council of Catholic Women conceived the “Remembrance Tree” project a little over a year ago. The inaugural dedication comes during the “Year for Priests,” a time when Pope Benedict XVI encourages all to pray for priests and vocations to the priesthood.

“This will be ongoing,” said Jean Waddington, president of the Palm Beach diocesan council. “Each year, we will bring up the capsule and burn the names and place another scroll with new names into the capsule.”

The “Remembrance Tree” was conceived as a substitute to sympathy cards or get-well cards, according to Maria Morgan, spirituality chairwoman for the diocesan council. The women wanted an annual memorial event held on All Souls Day.

“It seemed appropriate to do something more meaningful and lasting in our diocese,” said Morgan about the event held at a time of the year when loved ones are remembered. “When our Holy Father dedicated this as the Year for Priests, it seemed only natural to help make known our major seminary by offering our Council of Catholic Women members the opportunity to visit these grounds, to bond with our future diocesan leaders and to keep prayerfully alive the memory of loved ones.”

Seminary staff members also participated in the dedication and memorial ceremony.

“We are very honored that the CCW and St. Vincent de Paul have been part of this partnership to spread the word of vocations and the importance of vocations and to be the host site of the remembrance tree,” said Stanton Cadow, director of institutional development. “Each year and every year we will be the host site to bury a scroll of the beloved departed. This year, we are happy to have Bishop Barbarito to preside over the ceremony.”

The kickoff event appears successful.

“We had about 30 pages of names,” said Joanne Springer, former diocesan CCW president. Anyone interested in next year’s event for their loved ones is asked to send names along with donations to the council.

“The idea is to supplement the burse fund, a financial donation we make to the bishop for the support and education of our diocesan seminarians,” said Morgan. “Bishop Barbarito was enthused and supportive of the idea.”

Initially, according to Morgan, it was designated for the remembrance of departed loved ones. But so many have asked if they could also place the prayer needs for the living in the capsule that council members agreed to include such prayer requests, asking donors to designate the person’s name and prayer needs.

The women raised $3,000 and at the end of ceremonies, presented a check to Bishop Barbarito. He thanked them for their efforts and dedication to education of the seminarians.

“Throughout the year, as the seminarians walk the grounds, they will see this tree and hopefully whisper a prayer of gratitude for their benefactors and a prayer of supplication for those whose names are there,” said Morgan.

The CCW women hope to involve other members and parishioners in the six Florida dioceses and one archdiocese, because St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary educates and trains priests for all areas of the state and beyond.

“I feel this new project is newsworthy, especially as we honor the Year for Priests and our special need for vocations,” said Waddington.

“This is our major seminary and everyone should have the opportunity to not only financially participate, but most of all to support and encourage those who dedicate their lives to the ministry of the Church,” Moran added.

Council member Betty McKinley included names of 12 loved ones on the scroll. “The Church encourages us to pray for the dead and this is a beautiful opportunity to do so,” she said. “It also emphasizes the need for support, both spiritually and financially, of our seminarians.”

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