Dear Editor:

Currently in Summit Hill, St. Joseph’s of the Valley parish through the conjunction of St. Vincent De Paul Society are formulating a program that will put a vegetable garden on the premises of St. Michael Archangel Cemetery. The initiative is to grow vegetables to feed the needy of the Panther Valley areas.

Although the intentions are good, this act of using the holy place of reverence and remembrance are way out of line. The parish is in control of many other properties that could suit this purpose. The mere thought of using sacred and consecrated grounds for some sort of community vegetable garden for ordinary use is ludicrous. The diocese is violating its own rules as well as disrespecting the departed souls and their families in multiple ways. I ask any of you, how would you react to this in your own cemetery without any input or permission from any of the families? I and many others are dead set against this disrespectful proposal. We bought and paid for our plots; just where does the jurisdiction end and begin with the cemetery authorities?

According to section 5 Article XI of the cemetery rules and regulations it states: “Lawns shall not be disturbed for any purpose except under the supervision of cemetery authorities. Planting of any kind of trees, shrubs and plants is prohibited.” How does a vegetable garden become fit for purpose?

Section 2 Article XI states: Trespassers: “Only the plot holder and his relatives or friends shall be permitted on the cemetery plot or in the public mausoleum. Any other person thereon or therein shall be considered a trespasser.” Seems to me these rules are arbitrarily applied. I don’t even want to get into the liability issues.

I am not critical or belittling the St. Vincent De Paul Society. They have done and continue to do great things in the fight against poverty in our area. What I am asking is to please consider a much more suitable place for your project. Don’t turn our beautiful and serene cemetery into “Green Acres.”

John J. Zonca

Lansford