ST. MARY’S CEMETERY
4503 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
412.421.9959
Established: 1849
Acres: 44
No Official Website
Bella Morte Rating: 2 Tombstones
Brooding in the shadow of St. Francis Hospital, St. Mary Catholic Cemetery is an unexpected delight. We came upon it by chance, or, more likely, an act of Fate, during a trip to explore Pittsburgh's Allegheny Cemetery. As Allegheny was closed due to damage from a storm, we reluctantly departed after having been turned away from the front gates by security. In looking over our map of the area to plan our next move, however, we noted that St. Mary Cemetery was just around the corner and so decided to pay a visit.
Though small in size, the cemetery contains a few surprisingly elegant private family mausoleums, a fair number of interesting monuments, and a beautiful section set aside for the burial of priests and bishops from the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh. What made this area most unique and inviting was the size, number and close proximity of the memorials. Resembling a graveyard one might expect to find in England, the imposing stones towered above us, instilling a sense of awe.
As we explored the grounds, our attention was repeatedly drawn to the red brick hospital building next door. Crowned with a cross atop a spire which pointed to the heavens amidst a cloudy sky, the structure seemed to watch us through a hundred glass eyes behind which, we speculated, patients were even then turning their gazes towards the cemetery grounds. Interesting to consider the thoughts of mortality the sight of the graveyard might have inspired.
We have learned that, since our trip, St. Francis Hospital has been swallowed by the Pittsburgh Children's Hospital conglomerate. Good news for a neighbourhood which would no doubt otherwise suffer a devastating decline...not such good news for the Sisters of St. Francis who once staffed the hospital, dedicating their lives to the care of the sick and injured, regardless of their ability to pay. The older nuns have since retired behind the walls of their Millvale Motherhouse to live the remainder of their lives in the same spirit of poverty which allowed them to sacrifice so much for the care of those placed in their trust.
Speaking of poverty and dedication...the Little Sisters of the Poor have a rather large monument along the back fence on the grounds of St. Mary. Carved into the plain stone beneath a black cross are the names of scores of women who spent their lives in service dedicated to God and the needs of the less fortunate among us.
Having mentioned earlier the storm damage which saw us turned away from Allegheny, we might add here that, though Allegheny suffered the most severe effects of the macroburst, St. Mary did not escape completely unscathed. As we explored the grounds, we encountered stones lifted from their bases by roots torn from the earth as well as areas of fencing which had been crushed by fallen trees. And, much to our delight, we came to realize that what lay on the other side of that fallen fencing was none other than Allegheny cemetery. As St. Mary's had so generously offered us a way in, we would have been foolish to ignore the opportunity to cross over and explore...but first, mustering our determination, we completed our tour of St. Mary.
When planning a journey to Allegheny, an hour or so set aside for the exploration of St. Mary would, in our opinion, be worth your while.
{G}
4503 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
412.421.9959
Established: 1849
Acres: 44
No Official Website
Bella Morte Rating: 2 Tombstones
Brooding in the shadow of St. Francis Hospital, St. Mary Catholic Cemetery is an unexpected delight. We came upon it by chance, or, more likely, an act of Fate, during a trip to explore Pittsburgh's Allegheny Cemetery. As Allegheny was closed due to damage from a storm, we reluctantly departed after having been turned away from the front gates by security. In looking over our map of the area to plan our next move, however, we noted that St. Mary Cemetery was just around the corner and so decided to pay a visit.
Though small in size, the cemetery contains a few surprisingly elegant private family mausoleums, a fair number of interesting monuments, and a beautiful section set aside for the burial of priests and bishops from the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh. What made this area most unique and inviting was the size, number and close proximity of the memorials. Resembling a graveyard one might expect to find in England, the imposing stones towered above us, instilling a sense of awe.
As we explored the grounds, our attention was repeatedly drawn to the red brick hospital building next door. Crowned with a cross atop a spire which pointed to the heavens amidst a cloudy sky, the structure seemed to watch us through a hundred glass eyes behind which, we speculated, patients were even then turning their gazes towards the cemetery grounds. Interesting to consider the thoughts of mortality the sight of the graveyard might have inspired.
We have learned that, since our trip, St. Francis Hospital has been swallowed by the Pittsburgh Children's Hospital conglomerate. Good news for a neighbourhood which would no doubt otherwise suffer a devastating decline...not such good news for the Sisters of St. Francis who once staffed the hospital, dedicating their lives to the care of the sick and injured, regardless of their ability to pay. The older nuns have since retired behind the walls of their Millvale Motherhouse to live the remainder of their lives in the same spirit of poverty which allowed them to sacrifice so much for the care of those placed in their trust.
Speaking of poverty and dedication...the Little Sisters of the Poor have a rather large monument along the back fence on the grounds of St. Mary. Carved into the plain stone beneath a black cross are the names of scores of women who spent their lives in service dedicated to God and the needs of the less fortunate among us.
Having mentioned earlier the storm damage which saw us turned away from Allegheny, we might add here that, though Allegheny suffered the most severe effects of the macroburst, St. Mary did not escape completely unscathed. As we explored the grounds, we encountered stones lifted from their bases by roots torn from the earth as well as areas of fencing which had been crushed by fallen trees. And, much to our delight, we came to realize that what lay on the other side of that fallen fencing was none other than Allegheny cemetery. As St. Mary's had so generously offered us a way in, we would have been foolish to ignore the opportunity to cross over and explore...but first, mustering our determination, we completed our tour of St. Mary.
When planning a journey to Allegheny, an hour or so set aside for the exploration of St. Mary would, in our opinion, be worth your while.
{G}