In 1852, ten acres of land was purchased by Fr. Charles L. De Ceuninck along the 900 block of Madison Avenue, S.E. and it was consecrated in the spring of 1853. Prior to the purchase, there was a small section of Fulton Street Cemetery that was reserved for Catholics. It is believed that some of those burials were transferred to St. Andrew’s.
At present, there are over 9,000 burials within these ten acres and there are many graves available for purchase. In the center of the cemetery is a circle with large monuments, memorializing priests that have served in our diocese, including Fr. Andreas Viszosky, the first pastor. There are two mausoleums: one for the beloved Fr. Patrick McManus, pastor of St. Andrew and the other John Clancy and his family. Along the northeast corner stands an ornate holding vault that was used to hold the deceased when the ground was too frozen to bury.
This is a historic cemetery and due to its historic nature, the cemetery is fenced and locked. If you have a family member located in the cemetery, please contact either our Holy Cross or Resurrection office to obtain a key. Please note that the cemetery is unlocked on major holidays.
If you are interested in learning more about this cemetery or would like a private tour, please contact us at 616-453-1636.