When people talk about St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, many images come to mind. Some think about the residences, some about the main chapel, some about the library or the boathouse or the lake or the neo-Georgian architecture. Some even think about the golf course that used to be there. Many don’t think about the cemetery, though.
On the grounds are the remains of several clergy, some priests and some cardinals. Cardinal Mundelein is entombed in the Main Chapel and Cardinal Meyer in the cemetery along with many others. The first burial was a seminarian who died from polio.
When I go to my former seminary grounds to pray, I generally spend some time in the cemetery as well praying for the deceased. Such rich, happy stories their memories evoke.