Ascension Cemetery, Airmont, NY

Ascension Cemetery, Airmont, NY Ascension Cemetery is located in Rockland County, New York, on the west side of Saddle River Road, just north of the New York/New Jersey border in Airmont.

The cemetery was established in 1966 by the Trustees of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Patrick’s Cathedral in response to the increasing number of Catholic families moving from New York City to the outlying counties. Using 200 acres of woodlands acquired in 1960, an initial 35 acres were developed in time for a solemn blessing in June 1967. In addition to ground burial facilities, a garden mausoleum complex was constructed to provide above-ground outdoor crypts for entombment and niches for cremation inurnment. The focal point of the mausoleum complex is a chapel towering over the mausoleum/office complex. It provides a quiet atmosphere for individual prayer and meditation. The chapel may also be used by families selecting ground interment during inclement weather. Ascension Cemetery has accepted responsibility for the care of more than 4,000 Catholics and members of their families. Currently the cemetery averages 175 annual committal services in graves, mausoleum crypts or cremation niches. The cemetery is divided into 5 developed sections for ground burial. A community chapel mausoleum with both crypts and niches, and the cemetery office was constructed in 1990. Notable cemetery features include the entrance carving of Jesus ascending into heaven, a large natural pond over which one must cross to approach the mausoleum complex and the cemetery office. There are also various shrines throughout the cemetery sections. One Hundred and Sixty-five acres of the cemetery remain to be developed to accommodate the burial, entombment and inurnment needs of Catholics and members of their families throughout the greater New York and New Jersey areas.

1/28: The Feast Day of Saint Thomas AquinasDear Beloved in Christ,Saint Thomas is one of the Church's greatest treasures...
01/29/2026

1/28: The Feast Day of Saint Thomas Aquinas

Dear Beloved in Christ,

Saint Thomas is one of the Church's greatest treasures—the "Angelic Doctor," whose luminous intellect and sanctified heart have illuminated the path of faith for nearly eight centuries. Born around 1225 into nobility in Aquino, Italy, Thomas entered the Dominican Order as a young man and devoted his extraordinary gifts entirely to understanding and defending the truths of our Catholic faith. He stands before us as a magnificent witness to the sublime harmony between reason and revelation—demonstrating that a mind steeped in rigorous philosophical inquiry and a soul devoted to prayer are companions in the great work of understanding God's wisdom.

His Summa Theologiae is a towering masterpiece in which he wove together all the main teachings of Catholic doctrine into a systematic whole. Pope Pius V honored him as a Doctor of the Church—calling him "the most brilliant light of the Church"—and for centuries his works were the very foundation of priestly formation and theological study. Yet what strikes us most profoundly is not merely the breadth of his learning, but the principle that animates all his work: "grace does not destroy nature, but perfects it."

Through this insight, Thomas reconciled faith and reason as complementary paths to truth, teaching us that God speaks to us both through the gift of revelation and through the rational powers He has placed within our minds, reminding us that the ultimate goal of all our learning is not knowledge, but union with Christ, communion with Him in the Eucharist, and the sanctification of our souls.

Through the intercession of this great Doctor of the Church, may we learn to honor both the mind and the heart, to cultivate reason as a gift from God while never forgetting that reason itself finds its fulfillment only in faith.

May we, like Thomas, approach the mysteries of God with both intellectual humility and childlike wonder, recognizing that the deepest truths—the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Eucharist—exceed our comprehension yet call us ever deeper into communion with the living God.

May peace be with you...

The Feast Day of Saint Angela of Merici Dear Beloved in Christ,This remarkable woman stands among the Church’s most visi...
01/29/2026

The Feast Day of Saint Angela of Merici

Dear Beloved in Christ,

This remarkable woman stands among the Church’s most visionary founders, offering enduring lessons in faith, courage, and the transforming power of Christian education.

Orphaned as a young girl, she allowed suffering to deepen—not diminish—her love for Christ. She joined the Third Order of Saint Francis, embraced a life of prayer and penance, and consecrated her virginity to the Lord. In a luminous vision received during prayer, Angela was shown that God was calling her to form a company of women dedicated to the Church and to the Christian formation of young girls.

At the age of sixty, she gathered twenty-eight companions and founded the Company of Saint Ursula in Brescia—an entirely new form of consecrated life. With the blessing of the Church, her daughters lived in the world without cloister or habit, offering themselves in obedience, chastity, and service. Their mission was clear: to educate girls in faith and virtue, strengthening families and society from within. From this bold beginning emerged the first teaching order of women in the Church, whose influence soon spread across Europe and beyond.

Canonized in 1807, Saint Angela is today honored as a patroness of educators and teachers. On this blessed feast, the Church invites us not only to admire her witness, but to imitate it, remembering that holiness is often quiet, faithful, and attentive to those most in need—and that education rooted in Christ renews both souls and cultures.

On this blessed day, and always, may peace be with you…

Feast Day of St. Agnes: A Lamb's LegacyDear Beloved in Christ,On January 21, we honor Saint Agnes, who is renowned for h...
01/22/2026

Feast Day of St. Agnes: A Lamb's Legacy

Dear Beloved in Christ,

On January 21, we honor Saint Agnes, who is renowned for her bravery, unwavering faith, and purity. She was a young child murdered under Emperor Diocletian's persecutions for refusing marriage to remain devoted to Christ. Saint Agnes is now the patron saint of girls, chastity, and virgins. Her name reflects her holiness: Agnes meaning “pure,” and agnus, “lamb.”

She was perhaps only twelve or thirteen years old—when she became one of the Church’s most radiant martyrs. Born around 291 into a noble Roman family, Agnes consecrated her virginity to Christ at a young age. Though many suitors sought her hand, she refused them all, declaring: “My life belongs to Him who has chosen me first.”

When the son of the prefect denounced her for her Christian faith and her refusal to marry, Agnes was brought before Prefect Sempronius during the persecutions under Emperor Diocletian. Threatened with torture and ordered to sacrifice to false gods, Agnes instead made the Sign of the Cross. Hoping humiliation would succeed where threats failed, the prefect ordered her to a brothel. Yet God protected His bride: a brilliant light surrounded her, preserving her purity. One young man who approached her fell dead, and at Agnes’s prayer he was restored to life—revealing the power of Christ at work through this child.

Enraged, the prefect ordered her burned alive, but the flames could not touch her. Standing in prayer, Agnes praised God for delivering her. At last, she was put to death by the sword, offering herself willingly and joyfully to Christ. Even pagans wept at the sight of such innocence embracing martyrdom.

She was buried in the catacombs beneath what is now the Basilica of Sant’Agnese fuori le mura. Each year on January 21, the Pope blesses lambs whose wool becomes the palliums worn by archbishops—a living sign of purity, sacrifice, and unity with Rome.
Saint Agnes reminds us that true freedom is found in belonging wholly to Christ. In a world that often despises innocence, she proclaims that holiness is strength perfected by grace. Through her intercession, may we remain pure in heart, faithful in promise, and courageous in witness.

May peace be with you...

Feast Day of Saint Sebastian, Model of CourageDear Beloved in Christ,It is a true privilege to honor and reflect upon on...
01/22/2026

Feast Day of Saint Sebastian, Model of Courage

Dear Beloved in Christ,

It is a true privilege to honor and reflect upon one of the Chruch's most courageous and loved martyrs: Saint Sebastian is a patron for soldiers, and athletes, and who we pray to for protection from plague.

Born around 255 and raised in Milan, he rose to captain of the Praetorian Guard under Emperor Diocletian. While serving in the heart of imperial power, he lived a hidden Christian life—secretly encouraging imprisoned believers and converting many through word and example.

When the deacons Marcus and Marcellianus were imprisoned for Christ, Sebastian revealed his faith and fortified them so powerfully that their families and many others embraced Christianity. Miracles accompanied his witness: the mute Zoe spoke, the prefect Chromatius was healed and baptized, and Sebastian became, for a time, Rome’s unseen protector of the Church.

Discovered in 286, Sebastian was condemned to death by arrows and left for dead. God preserved his life, and Saint Irene nursed him back to health. Rather than flee, Sebastian confronted Diocletian directly, denouncing the persecution of Christians. For this, he was clubbed to death, and his body later laid to rest in the catacombs along the Appian Way, where the Basilica of San Sebastiano now stands.

Venerated as a protector against plague and patron of soldiers and athletes, Saint Sebastian reminds us that true strength flows from total surrender to Christ. His life teaches us to stand firm in faith, to use our positions for God’s glory, and to bear witness without fear.
For more than seventeen centuries, his quiet heroism and fearless witness have strengthened the faithful.

May this faithful soldier and glorious martyr of Christ pray for us.

January 17: The Feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot Dear Beloved in Christ,The feast day of the Father of Monasticism draws...
01/16/2026

January 17: The Feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot

Dear Beloved in Christ,

The feast day of the Father of Monasticism draws us into the wisdom of a soul who learned to listen deeply to God. Living in the stillness of the Egyptian desert, Saint Anthony discovered that true freedom is found not in possessing much, but in surrendering everything to the Lord. His life was not an escape from the world, but a loving offering for it—a witness that the human heart is made for God alone.

Saint Anthony's holiness was formed in silence, prayer, and perseverance. In the simplicity of his days, he waged a courageous battle against fear, temptation, and distraction, trusting wholly in God's grace. When he distributed his inheritance to the poor and withdrew to the desert around 270 AD, he modeled a radical response to Christ's call to perfection. The Church honors him because his way of life reminds us that intimacy with God is possible for every soul, not through great achievements, but through faithfulness in small, hidden acts of love.

The Desert Fathers understood their solitude as intercession for the Church and the world. Through their prayers and penances, they stood in solidarity with all humanity, offering their suffering for the redemption of souls. In an age of constant distraction, Saint Anthony's example invites us to examine our attachments and idols, calling us to spiritual vigilance against the "demons of the age"—pride, lust, greed, and envy.

As we celebrate his feast today, we join the universal Church across centuries in honoring this saint and invoking his intercession. We are invited to step back from the noise of our lives, to rest in God's presence, and to rediscover the quiet joy that comes from placing our hearts entirely in His care. May the example of Saint Anthony strengthen our resolve to seek first the kingdom of God, knowing that in losing ourselves, we truly find ourselves in Christ.

May peace be with you...

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Dear Beloved in Christ,This Holy day is a gentle and luminous moment in the life of...
01/15/2026

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Dear Beloved in Christ,

This Holy day is a gentle and luminous moment in the life of the Church. In it, we are invited to imagine standing quietly on the banks of the Jordan and behold a mystery filled with humility and love. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, steps into the waters not because He needs cleansing, but because He wishes to draw close to us—so close that He enters fully into the human condition. In doing so, He blesses the waters of the earth and reveals the tender heart of God, who desires to meet His children where they are.

As the heavens open and the Holy Spirit descends, the voice of the Father is heard proclaiming His delight in the Son. This moment, so simple yet so profound, is a gift to all humanity, and especially those of us in the Catholic faith. It reminds us that in our own baptism, we too were claimed, cherished, and named as His beloved sons and daughters. This Feast tenderly brings the Christmas season to its close, turning our eyes from His wonderous birth in the manger to the unfolding of His mission of love and mercy. And so, the Baptism of the Lord is an invitation to remember who we are in Christ—and to walk forward with trust, knowing that we, too, are held in the loving gaze of the Father.

May peace be with you...

The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the LordDear Beloved in Christ,On January 6, the Church lifts her eyes in wonder and jo...
01/06/2026

The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

Dear Beloved in Christ,

On January 6, the Church lifts her eyes in wonder and joy to celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord, which commemorates the manifestation of Christ to the nations, represented by the visit of the Magi. It proclaims that Jesus is not only the Messiah of Israel, but the Savior of the world.

In the humble visit of the Magi, guided only by a star and an aching desire for truth, we see the fulfillment of God’s promise: that the light born in Bethlehem is not meant to be hidden, but offered to the whole world, for the Epiphany speaks tenderly to every searching heart: The Magi were outsiders—foreigners, seekers, pilgrims—yet they were welcomed into the presence of the Christ Child. Their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh quietly proclaim that Jesus is King, God, and sacrificial Savior.

This feast reminds us that no one is too far away, too different, or too lost to be drawn by God’s light. As the Christmas season reaches its radiant fullness, Epiphany invites us not only to adore Christ, but to become reflections of His light for others—so that, through our lives, the world may glimpse the mercy and glory of God.

May peace be with you...

Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory NazianzenDear Beloved in Christ,On January 2, our Church warmly invites u...
01/06/2026

Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen

Dear Beloved in Christ,

On January 2, our Church warmly invites us to sit at the feet of two holy teachers, Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, whose lives were given entirely to the love of God and the truth of the Gospel. These saints lived in a time of great confusion and division, when even the most central truths about Christ were questioned. With brilliant minds and humble hearts, they helped the Church clearly proclaim that Jesus is truly God, and that the Holy Spirit is fully divine—truths we continue to profess each time we pray the Creed.

Yet what makes this day so important is not only their intellect, but their holiness. Basil poured himself out in care for the poor, the sick, and the forgotten, founding hospitals and communities of mercy. Gregory, gentle and contemplative, suffered deeply for the sake of unity and truth, often misunderstood, yet always faithful. Together, they remind us that true wisdom is born from prayer, and that love for God must always overflow into love for neighbor. On this quiet day within the Christmas season, the Church thanks God for minds enlightened by grace and hearts formed by charity.

May peace be with you...

The Feast Day of the Solemnity of MaryDear Beloved in Christ,As we step into this bright new year, the Church places bef...
01/01/2026

The Feast Day of the Solemnity of Mary

Dear Beloved in Christ,

As we step into this bright new year, the Church places before us a sublime gift of incomparable grace. For this day is a profound proclamation of faith that touches the very heart of our salvation. On January 1, this octave day of Christmas (the eight-day liturgical celebration of Jesus' birth, starting on Christmas Day and ending on January 1st), our Church proclaims the precious truth that the child born of Mary is truly God. By honoring Mary as the Mother of God, we protect and celebrate the Incarnation itself, that the eternal Word entered human history through Mary's willing "Yes."

And how wise is the Church in placing Mary's greatest feast on New Year's Day! As the world speaks of resolutions, the Church invites us to begin our year beneath Mary's maternal gaze, entrusting us, and all that lies ahead, to her watchful care and intercession. May we take Mary into our hearts as we walk into 2026, for she walks with the faithful through every day, reminding us that we are never alone and that Christ is with us always. What a magnificent way to begin anew.

May peace be with you on this blessed day, and forever and ever....

The Feast of Pope Saint Sylvester I Dear Beloved in Christ,As the final hours of the year gently unfold, we turn our gaz...
12/31/2025

The Feast of Pope Saint Sylvester I

Dear Beloved in Christ,

As the final hours of the year gently unfold, we turn our gaze to Pope Saint Sylvester I, a humble and faithful shepherd who guided the Church through one of the most momentous and grace-filled chapters of her history.

Serving as Bishop of Rome from 314 to 335, Saint Sylvester witnessed the dawn of peace after centuries of persecution. Under his pastoral care, magnificent churches rose throughout Rome—visible signs that the light of Christ could no longer be hidden.

How beautifully providential that Saint Sylvester’s feast is celebrated on the very last day of the year. As we step into the new year, may we seek Saint Sylvester’s gentle intercession, that we too may be steadfast in faith, courageous in witness, and unwavering in our love for Christ. May we enter the days ahead with love in our hearts, trusting that Christ remains our foundation. With Him, we have nothing to fear and everything to hope for.

May peace be with you...

The Feast of Saint Thomas BecketDear Beloved in Christ,Saint Thomas Beckett, who we honor on December 29, stands before ...
12/30/2025

The Feast of Saint Thomas Becket

Dear Beloved in Christ,

Saint Thomas Beckett, who we honor on December 29, stands before us as a brave bishop and martyr who loved Christ above all else.

Once a close friend and chancellor of King Henry II of England, Thomas underwent a deep conversion of heart when he became Archbishop of Canterbury, and he chose to defend the freedom of the Church against unjust interference by the crown, even at the greatest personal cost. His witness moved all of Europe to see anew that no earthly ruler stands above Christ the King. Saint Thomas is a loving reminder that fidelity to the Gospel sometimes demands great courage, and that when we put God first, even in the face of opposition, our lives become a powerful testimony that can strengthen the faith of countless others across borders and time itself.

As we stand at the threshold of a new year, may we carry forward Saint Thomas' conviction that nothing in this world is worth more than fidelity to Christ.

May peace be with you...

Address

650 Saddle River Road
Airmont, NY
10952

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm
Saturday 9am - 4:30pm
Sunday 9am - 4:30pm

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