Founded in 2003, the Pallbearer Ministry serves the poor and indigent by carrying deceased men and women who have little or no family to their final place of rest. The ministry also holds a prayer service at Potter’s Field, Cleveland’s burial ground for the homeless. Juniors and seniors are invited each year to be trained and to serve.
To inquire about service with the pallbearers, please contact Mr. Pat Valletta ’05 or Mr. Joe Mulholland '09.
The only Potter's Field prayer service for the year will be held on
Saturday, November 2 at 10 a.m. Directions can be
found here.
History of Pallbearers
Theology teacher Jim Skerl’ 74 founded the pallbearer ministry in 2003 to help students fulfill the Corporal Work of Mercy of
burying the dead. The service is offered free of charge to small families, indigent people or those who die alone.
Although it had humble beginnings, today the pallbearer ministry is the largest student organization on campus at roughly 400 members. Since its founding, the ministry has served more than 2,800 funerals, averaging roughly 150 per year.
Parents and adult volunteers continue to make this ministry possible by shepherding students to and from the funerals via school van. To get involved as an adult companion, please contact Pat Valletta.
Pallbearers in the News
Unique program teaches life, death at St. Ignatius
Fox8 News
December 2024
High school pallbearer services fill a need when the deceased don't have family
Today.com
November 2024
The Todd Starnes Show
Newsmax
November 2024
Ohio high school boys serve as pallbearers for strangers
EWTN
August 2024
Dignity in Death: Catholic High Schoolers Bury the Dead
National Catholic Register
June 2023