A Cornerstone of Rest Founded 73 Years Ago, Gate of Heaven Cemetery Stands as the Interment Place for Nearly 50,000 BY KATE THESING
What began 73 years ago as a collection of seven farms purchased in the 1940s has evolved into a 160-acre cornerstone of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati: Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Under the administration of Archbishop John T. McNicholas, development of the land as the archdiocesan cemetery began in the mid ‘40s following the end of World War II, with the first interment taking place in 1948. Today, Gate of Heaven has more than 46,000 interments and a collection of majestic, soaring oak trees, rolling hills, ponds, creeks and monuments. Located in the quaint village of Montgomery, OH, about 18 miles from downtown Cincinnati, Gate of Heaven is the tranquil centerpiece of a ministry of service. The cemetery comprises 22 themed sections. Each
section has a shrine related to a saint, the Blessed Mother, Christ, the Gospels and/or the Rosary. As the cemetery expands, they will add new themes within the Catholic tradition. Gate of Heaven Cemetery’s current administration building was dedicated in 1971 and functioned not only as a cemetery facility, but also as Good Shepherd Parish beginning in 1973. Good Shepherd Parish subsequently relocated to another area on the acerage. MINISTRY OF CARE
Driven by its ministry, Gate of Heaven Cemetery provides no-cost infant interments for Church members who have suffered the loss of their child before age 2, including miscarriages. These graves are located in the Baby Garden section, which is anchored by a beautiful bronze statue of an
Archbishop John McNicholas’ burial. He opened the Gate of Heave Cemetery in 1948 and passed away two years later.
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