Dear Parishioners’ of St. Stephen, Martyr,

“To comfort those who mourn, and to bury the dead,” for thousands of years the Christian family has honored the summons of these spiritual and corporal works of mercy.  Believers in the Resurrection, we reverence, but do not unduly honor the body.  Temple of the Holy Spirit, washed in Baptism, nourished by the Eucharist, anointed in Confirmation and in death, it is a sacred relic deserving of our respect and care.  To this end our parish has established a new Ministry, unique to our area.

Welcome to Our Lady Queen of Heaven Mausoleum Garden, A Ministry of St. Stephen, Martyr Roman Catholic Church.  By now I am sure you have heard of the “Cemetery Project.”  I am happy to inform you that construction is due to begin in less than a month and the construction of Phase 1 should be completed by the middle of November.

The Cemetery Committee has worked hard and diligently over the past eight months to make this a reality.  Currently a design has been approved, a layout has been approved, fencing selections have been made, granite colors have been selected, and landscaping designs are coming together.  The City of Chesapeake has approved the project and granted St. Stephen, Martyr a CUP (Conditional Use Permit) to operate the Mausoleum Garden, and the Diocese of Richmond has also granted approval.  The last few details to complete are meeting city guidelines to approve the site plan and finalizing the legalities of a sales contract.  Once these few items are complete the sales process will begin.

The initial phase will consist of three Mausoleum buildings.  There will be St. Michael, St. Joseph, and our signature building will be Queen of Heaven which will boast a beautiful mosaic of the Coronation of the Virgin Mary honoring the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The St. Michael Mausoleum and the St. Joseph Mausoleum will contain 144 crypt (casket) spaces and 32 niche (Columbaria) spaces.  The Queen of Heaven Mausoleum will contain 144 crypt spaces and 24 niche spaces.  Each Mausoleum is constructed to accommodate 48 single crypt spaces and 48 companion crypts (2 caskets per crypt).


The sales price per crypt or niche includes perpetual care, the opening and closing cost, and memorial inscription consisting of the deceased’s name, year of birth, and year of death. At an additional cost a Military Medallion, cameo, or a perpetual vigil light can be purchased for the crypt/niche frontal.  There will be communal, dedicated spaces for flowers to be placed between the Mausoleum buildings (not attached to the crypts).

Should you have any questions do not hesitate contacting myself, or our Cemetery Coordinator Ron Ivey at 757.421.7416.

Please check out the latest information as it it updated by  clicking here.


Cordially in the Lord, 

(Rev.) Msgr. Michael D. McCarron

Pastor