When the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated on December 8, 2018, the ground beneath us was slushy, and the clouds brought us sleet. However, this did not prevent either the parish priest Rafał Czernia SCJ or the rest of us—about twenty laypeople from both parishes in Helsinki—from attending as Bishop Teemu Sippo SCJ consecrated the Catholic cemetery (Section 57 at Malmi Cemetery). The area is intended for the use of our parishes.
With the prayers, the blessing, the holy water, and the hymn “Salve Regina,” we forgot the rain, our wet shoes, and the shivering in the cold, and the atmosphere became joyful and grateful. We felt relieved that we had been given a cemetery of our own.
By the beginning of summer, the once austere landscape had already changed. The trees had grown leaves, the lawn was green, and the first flower plantings delighted the eye. The graves were not arranged in straight rows but in graceful curves, creating a harmonious impression. The landscape was—and remains—beautifully designed.
It is worth visiting the cemetery regularly. There one can follow the changing seasons and observe how the years pass and the landscape transforms. In spring, several cherry trees bloom, and the forest behind the area resounds with the lively songs of birds. On hot summer days, one can sit in the shade beneath the large deciduous trees and enjoy the peace while listening to the sounds of nature.
Yesterday we celebrated the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. Today we returned to our routines and were given a fitting opportunity to brighten even an ordinary day by visiting this peaceful place. The cemetery is located about 10 km from the city center, and thanks to a good network of cycling paths, it is easy to get there for a quiet break.
There is a large wooden cross in the cemetery. Many visitors have left rosaries there. There is no doubt that this is a Catholic cemetery and that people tend to linger there longer than the simple care of a grave would require. It is also a place to seek communion with the Virgin Mary and, through her, with Jesus.
You too should pause and linger when you visit the cemetery. Turn to God’s Mother, the Virgin Mary. Pray the Holy Rosary and remember our beloved departed. Also keep in mind the needs of the Church or of your neighbor, and add prayer intentions appropriate to your own prayer.
Ask the Virgin Mary to help you remain open to God in your daily tasks.
The cemetery was consecrated on the day when, according to the Gospel, the angel Gabriel said: “Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” It is the same phrase that we repeat every week, every day, many times a day—and perhaps there too, in the cemetery, on a beautiful summer day.
Mary did not hesitate but accepted with trust the mission she had been given: to be the Mother of God, to show her Son to humanity, and to lead people to Him. The shortest path to Jesus is found by trusting Mary and loving her as our Mother, just as Jesus did.
At the same time, God opens our eyes so that we may see, love, and serve the people around us.
Christel Monni