Calvary Catholic Cemetery A Work of Renewal with Holy Family Catholic Church

Calvary Catholic Cemetery

A Work of Renewal with

Holy Family Catholic Church

Gideon Thompson

The Ashland Beacon

Present in the community of Ashland, Kentucky since 1860, Holy Family Catholic Church has been a part of the growth and story of our tri-state. Beginning in our area making calls from door to door, Benedictine Missionaries continued to support those in need and helped spread the word of God to those who were searching to listen. Moving into their third year, by 1863 Holy Family had opened Holy Family Catholic School in continuation of securing a place that would allow the church community to grow and learn. By 1877 Sisters of St. Francis had made their way to Holy Family Catholic School to assist in teaching and guiding students along their sturdies. As of 1948 Sisters of Divine Providence committed to teaching at the school and heling with the church until 1992. In 1988 the Holy Family Catholic Church of Ashland shifted their diocese to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky from the Diocese of Covington as a change of infrastructure for the church.

Over the years Holy Family Catholic Church has continued to grow and support the community from education to spiritual outreach, while aiding those who may need a helping hand. As time has passed the large presence Holy Family has had in our community has become part of our everyday lives as we pass by the church and school each day as well as several other properties owned and maintained by Holy Family Catholic Church. With the time that Holy Family has been present age has become observable in areas such Calvary Catholic Cemetery located on Pollard Rd in Ashland, Kentucky.

Dating back to the late 1800’s the Calvary Cemetery has been built to support the Holy Family community through securing a place of rest for their members and loved ones. With time the cemetery has begun to show its age as weather, vandalism, and wear and tear have played their part in deteriorating the property. Massive trees that have been the reprieve to hot days and helped to cover the property have fallen in places due to storms, markers and monuments have been damaged by debris and unwanted trespassing, and watershed has played part in wearing some markers and ornaments down over time. 

Having taken note to the deteriorating state of the environment at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, the Holy Family community, maintenance workers, and members of the church have put forth effort to reestablish support for the cemetery by cleaning up and restructuring that which had been damaged over time.

Where broken monuments dedicated to loved ones began to surface, members of Holy Family Catholic Church have responded with care and commitment by working together using the heads, hearts, and hands to bring things back together again. A beautiful landscape has begun to open back up along the Pollard Rd. viewing area as cleanup has revealed what fallen limbs had covered and damaged over some years.

Dedicated to restoring the cemetery, church members have networked and reached out to the Ashland Community in honor of the loved ones resting at Calvary Catholic Cemetery as well as those who live near the property. A clean park-like presence has sprung up from the limb covered hills and is beginning to take shape revealing what hard work and compassion has brought to fruition.

Cleanup and restoration have continued, and progress is being made in the cemetery as members have spent time bringing people together to put things back to their right places. With time and unity, Holy Family Catholic Church will restore their historic sites back to their original sates while moving into the future with the community they are a part of. If anyone is interested in contributing donations and volunteering may be made with Holy Family Catholic Church by reaching out at 606-329-1607 or on their Facebook page. The next time you pass through town you may notice the restoration that has brought some light back to the city with the repaired states of the Calvary Catholic Cemetery on Pollard Rd. and the Holy Family Church located at 900 Winchester Ave. of Ashland, Kentucky. Historic locations come in many forms, even churches and cemeteries.