Thank you to Jamie Mims at Rose Lawn Cemetery for these wonderful images and beautiful remarks. Bishop Gorman is equally grateful for the opportunity to teach students about honoring the dead. These ninth and tenth grade students gained so much from this experience.
"For the second year in a row, students from Bishop Thomas K. Gorman Catholic School in Tyler, Texas, came together at Rose Lawn Cemetery for a day of prayer, reflection, and hands-on service as part of their Corporal Works of Mercy studies. Nearly fifty students, accompanied by few teachers and mentors, devoted their time and energy to caring for the sacred grounds, continuing a growing partnership that blends faith, education, and community stewardship.
The day began with a moment of reverence as the students gathered to pray over the departed souls laid to rest within Rose Lawn Cemetery. Their prayers echoed softly among the trees—a heartfelt reminder that compassion, respect, and remembrance are timeless virtues. After prayer, the students divided into small work groups to take on various service projects designed to honor those who came before us.
Some students moved along the fence rows and tree lines, collecting litter and debris to help preserve the beauty and dignity of the cemetery grounds. Others placed American flags beside the graves of servicemen and women, ensuring that the sacrifices of these heroes would never go unnoticed. Teams also worked diligently to clean and restore monuments, gently removing years of dust and pollen so that names and inscriptions could once again shine clearly in the sunlight.
Another group focused on raking and bagging pine straw, a natural resource that was later reused for flower beds throughout the cemetery—an act that not only beautified the space but also reflected thoughtful environmental care. Each task, though humble in itself, represented a tangible expression of faith in action: an outward sign of love, respect, and mercy.
This annual collaboration between Bishop Gorman students and Rose Lawn Cemetery is more than just a volunteer project—it is a living lesson in compassion, stewardship, and gratitude. Through their service, these young men and women learned that honoring the dead is also a way of serving the living, for it deepens our connection to history, to faith, and to the shared human story we all inhabit.
As the students packed up their tools and looked out over the clean, peaceful grounds, there was a sense of quiet fulfillment. In giving of their time and effort, they had also received something profound—a deeper understanding of mercy, community, and the sacredness of remembrance.
Rose Lawn Cemetery is deeply grateful for the continued partnership with Bishop Thomas K. Gorman Catholic School and looks forward to many more years of shared service, prayer, and growth. Together, they show that acts of mercy—no matter how simple—can leave a lasting mark of hope and beauty in the world."