Students of the St. Joseph of Arimathea Society, a club dedicated to serving those who have been forgotten and honoring the deceased, recently attended the All Souls’ Day burial service at Meadow View Cemetery. All Souls’ Day commemorates those who, after death, “had not yet attained full sanctification and moral perfection, a requirement for entrance into Heaven,” according to Catholic Online. In essence, the day celebrates those who have passed and are on their journey to Heaven but have not yet fully reached it.
Unlike other burials, which are usually attended by one school, this day provided an opportunity for various Arimathea Societies to come together as one collective group during the All Souls’ Day Burial. Participating schools included Trinity, St. Xavier, Mercy, Assumption, and Immaculata Classical Academy. The service took place on Thursday, November 7. Events like this serve as a powerful reminder of the dignity owed to every human life, both living and deceased, and they “build empathy and compassion for people who are not like us, which is always a good thing,” said Mrs. Betsy Degolian, the Head of Faculty Development and one of the moderators for the St. Joseph of Arimathea Society.
The purpose of Trinity’s St. Joseph of Arimathea Society, as described by Degolian, is to “serve as witnesses at the burial services for homeless and indigent Louisvillians who often don’t have anybody to be there for them,” aligning with the Corporal Works of Mercy within the Catholic Church. The club typically attends one to two burials each month, usually on a Thursday. These services generally take place during second and third block classes. While students miss class time, they gain meaningful experiences and strengthen connections with classmates who also participate. Additionally, students often share a meal together before returning to Trinity, further fostering camaraderie and reflection.
The most significant benefit of these burial services is the perspective they provide. Students gain a deeper understanding of how empathy, kindness, and compassion can profoundly impact their lives and the lives of others. This year’s All Souls’ Day Burial exemplified how God’s presence can be seen in community and friendship. During this burial, multiple schools unified as one group to support a shared goal: to offer service, care, and prayer for a forgotten member of the community.
