Catholic Cemeteries Association: Our Lady of Peace

Catholic Cemeteries Association: Our Lady of Peace The Catholic Cemeteries Association oversees seven cemeteries located throughout central Indiana. Msgr. Auguste Francois Bessonies, Pastor of St.

Our History: In the 1850s Indianapolis Catholics began a search for ground for a consecrated cemetery. The custom of burying family members on the farm or on the grounds of their church was becoming impractical. John the Evangelist Parish and Vicar General of the Diocese of Vincennes, began the search for burial ground for his parishioners. He himself paid for an eighteen acre plot on Bluff Road a

nd established the first Catholic Cemetery in Indianapolis. Originally named St. John Cemetery, in 1891 the cemetery was named Holy Cross Cemetery. In 1870, a second Catholic cemetery, German Cemetery, was established. It later became St. Joseph Cemetery and eventually merged with Holy Cross Cemetery to become part of the Holy Cross Cemeteries Association. In 1914, anticipating future needs, the Holy Cross Cemeteries Association purchased approximately seventy acres of land less than a mile south of the original cemeteries. In 1935, Calvary Cemetery was developed on that land. In 1951, all three cemeteries were joined under the Catholic Cemeteries Association. As the City of Indianapolis grew and the population expanded to the north, the Catholic Cemeteries Association recognized the need for consecrated burial ground north of the City. Coming from the more northern reaches of the city to the south side cemeteries was impractical for many families, some of whom began burying their loved ones in a secular cemetery on the far northeast side. A Catholic section was opened there to accommodate Catholic families. However, that cemetery was neither consecrated ground nor owned by the Catholic Church. A search began for burial ground on the north side of the city. In 1993, the Archdiocese acquired land on Haverstick Road west of Keystone at the Crossing for Our Lady of Peace Cemetery. The first burial in Our Lady of Peace occurred in March of 1996.

As we observe Memorial Day, we pause in gratitude for the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. Their service and cour...
05/25/2026

As we observe Memorial Day, we pause in gratitude for the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. Their service and courage will always be remembered.

Happy Mother’s Day. Today, we honor all mothers and the many women who have embraced that role. We remember those who ar...
05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day. Today, we honor all mothers and the many women who have embraced that role. We remember those who are no longer with us and hold hope for those who long to become mothers.

Happy Administrative Professionals’ Day! We are grateful for your tireless work, organization, and support. Your contrib...
04/22/2026

Happy Administrative Professionals’ Day! We are grateful for your tireless work, organization, and support. Your contributions make a world of difference, and today is all about celebrating you!

May you have a blessed and meaningful Easter. As this season celebrates renewal and faith, let us also hold in our thoug...
04/05/2026

May you have a blessed and meaningful Easter. As this season celebrates renewal and faith, let us also hold in our thoughts those who have lost a loved one and seek to surround them with care and compassion.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from our family to yours. Today, we respectfully remember those who have passed and acknowledge ...
03/17/2026

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from our family to yours. Today, we respectfully remember those who have passed and acknowledge the impact they had on our lives. May their memory remain a lasting source of strength.

Our staff will soon be performing spring cleaning at each of the cemeteries. Please remember to retrieve any items you w...
02/17/2026

Our staff will soon be performing spring cleaning at each of the cemeteries. Please remember to retrieve any items you wish to keep from your loved one’s memorial site before February 28th.

For more information, please see our guide on how we maintain the beauty and tranquility of our cemeteries: https://www.catholiccemeteries.cc/about-us/maintaining-cemetery-beauty

If you’d like to have a permanent vase added to your loved one’s memorial site so that you may leave flowers undisturbed, please call (317) 784-4439 or contact our team at this link: https://www.catholiccemeteries.cc/vase-request

02/17/2026
Valentine’s Day can stir both joy and sorrow. For those missing someone dear, sharing a peaceful moment or activity with...
02/14/2026

Valentine’s Day can stir both joy and sorrow. For those missing someone dear, sharing a peaceful moment or activity with friends may help ease the day.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we celebrate his achievements and reflect on the powerful change he inspired.
01/19/2026

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we celebrate his achievements and reflect on the powerful change he inspired.

Happy New Year from Catholic Cemeteries Association!Blessings for a joyful and faith-filled 2026! Thank you for being pa...
01/01/2026

Happy New Year from Catholic Cemeteries Association!

Blessings for a joyful and faith-filled 2026! Thank you for being part of our Catholic community. As you reflect on the year ahead, consider preplanning your final wishes as an act of stewardship and love for your family.

https://www.catholiccemeteries.cc/plan-ahead/request-an-appointment

Address

9001 Haverstick Road
Indianapolis, IN
46240

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

(317) 574-8898

Website

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