Christian Action Team Report 2013-2014 C.A.T. Report 2013-2014 | Page 56

Christian Action Team Report 56 CLEVELAND - With solemn appearances, the unlined faces of six teenagers pulled the heavy casket from its resting place in the hearse and carried it slowly into a church where the family of the person had come to mourn had gathered. The teenagers, all high school students, had not known whose body they would bear, but the pallbearers were filled with respect and compassion. The six were all students from Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland. The teenagers had been requested by the family of the dead to serve as pallbearers. The boys, each dressed in a blue blazer, khaki slacks, shirts and tie, follow the funeral director’s quiet orders, moving the casket to where it should be placed for the service. “The great teaching of our faith is to care for the individual and to value human life from the womb to the tomb,” said Dan Baron, one of the advisors to the pallbearers group and a theology teacher at Saint Ignatius. He and fellow theology teacher Mr. James Skerl ‘74 work with 440 boys who have signed up for the pallbearer ministry, the largest at the historic school. The ministry is busy, answering the requests of many families that have no one to serve as pallbearers for the funeral of a loved one. Sometimes, the deceased had been a graduate of St. Ignatius High School and his family had requested St. Ignatius students carry him to his burial site. “When you’re out on a funeral, you kind of feel close to the families although you don’t even know them,” said Danny Dreiling ‘14. Fellow pallbearer Charlie Casa ‘14 echoed the sentiment. “The ministry was designed to not only give students an opportunity to perform the work of mercy, but also to help them see the real meaning of service,” he said. The boys provide their services under the guidance of funeral homes, which participate in the St. Ignatius project. “They’re not only pallbearers,” said Lou Ripepi, owner of Ripepi Funeral Home. “They pray with the families, sit through the services, funeral masses, graveside services, and present a card to the family. These are young men that really care.” Excerpt taken from My Ohio: Saint Ignatius High School teenagers serve as volunteer pallbearers in special ministry by Leon Bibb, newsnet5.com. For the full article and Bibb’s video production on this story, visit www.ignatius.edu/arimathea • Number of student pallbearers: • Number of seniors: • Number of Juniors: • Total funerals of Arimathea Ministry: Alumni Volunteers An important responsibility of the school’s Alumni Volunteers is to assist in the administration of the Arimathea Ministry. The Alumni Volunteers arrange for adult companions to serve as mentors for each funeral, send funerals off by leading the students in prayer, and are willing to accompany students to funerals when the need arises. This year’s Alumni Volunteers are (L to R) Mr. John Prijatel ‘09, Mr. Joe Mulholland ‘09 and Mr. Andrew Rossi ‘09. Save the Date Sunday, March 9, 2014: Arimathea Driver and Student Leader Mass and Breakfast at 10 a.m. in St. Mary’s Chapel Thursday, April 17, 2014: Holy Thursday Prayer Service at Potter’s Field • Total funerals of the Ministry 2013-2014: • Most funerals served this year in a week time period: • Most funerals served in one day this year: Reflection Prayers Written by Student Pallbearers Dear God, help me to understand what good comes out of death; God help me to embrace death as a passing from one life to the next. Amen Lord, Grant me the strength to give all my heart in all things in order to show my love and faith in you. Amen. God, grant your servant eternal rest. May she live in peace with you now and forever. Give her family strength and remind them they will be reunited together again. Amen Dear Lord, if you ever find that I don’t make my grandmother feel appreciated and loved by me, encourage me to change that, and never let me forget what a difference this made in my life. Saint Ignatius High School 1911 West 30th Street Cleveland, Ohio 44113 [email protected] [phone]