FLUSHING — A historic Catholic cemetery dating back to the Civil War has a new space to provide a final resting place for more than 2,000 deceased persons.

Bishop Robert Brennan blessed the Mary Our Lady of Peace mausoleum at Mount St. Mary Cemetery in Flushing after celebrating a Mass for All Souls Day at the cemetery on Nov. 2.

“Dear brothers and sisters In Christ, a common Christian concern has brought us together to bless this mausoleum where bodies sealed with the name of Christ will lie at rest awaiting the dawn of the Lord’s coming in glory,” Bishop Brennan said. “May this place be a comfort to the living as a sign of their hope for unending life.”

Mount St. Mary Cemetery was originally established as a parish cemetery for St. Michael’s Church in Flushing and was consecrated in 1863 by Bishop John Loughlin, the first bishop of Brooklyn.

All Souls Day, which comes one day after All Saints Day, allows the faithful to commemorate the dearly departed.

More than 400 people attended the outdoor Mass at Mount St. Mary Cemetery. In his homily, Bishop Brennan noted that while families were there to remember their loved ones, they were also at the cemetery in the spirit of hope. 

“We do believe we’re here because of love. You’re here, more close to someone you love. We’re also here because of hope,” Bishop Brennan explained, adding that hope centers on the belief in eternal life and that “God made us to be one with him.”

(Photos: Gregory A. Shemitz)

The Diocese of Brooklyn also marked All Souls Day with Mass at the other three cemeteries operated by Catholic Cemeteries — St. John Cemetery in Middle Village, Holy Cross Cemetery in East Flatbush, and St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, Long Island. 

The new mausoleum at Mount St. Mary Cemetery, which took approximately three years to construct, contains 916 crypts with room for 1,200 caskets, said Elaine Nicodemo, chief operating officer for Catholic Cemeteries. 

In addition, there is space for 1,250 cremation urns in the cemetery’s newest mausoleum, according to Nicodemo.  

“There was a need for it since the other two existing mausoleums in Mount St Mary’s Cemetery are both pretty much filled,” she said. 

She said the name Mary Our Lady of Peace is in keeping with the spirit of the cemetery — the other mausoleums are Mary Mother of God and Mary Gate of Heaven — which is dedicated to the Blessed Mother.