The Belgian Heritage Center (BHC), in partnership with St. Francis and St. Mary Parish, dedicated a new Our Lady of the Snows Historic Cemetery Display on Sunday, May 3, 2026. This meaningful event honored those buried in the historic cemetery adjacent to BHC and celebrated the completion of a new interpretive display area. Fr. Anthony Birdsall conducted a blessing and remembrance, acknowledging the volunteer work effort involved in transforming the former St. Mary of the Snows campus into the Belgian Heritage Center.
The new exhibit shares the story of the cemetery’s history, unique configuration and a listing of nearly 200 individuals buried between 1860 and 1911. The space also features a peaceful patio area with four memorial benches designed for reflection and remembrance.
After the blessing, attendees enjoyed an open house featuring light refreshments and a brief presentation highlighting the cemetery’s history and the extensive research undertaken to identify individuals whose graves no longer have markers. A special photo display showcasing those buried in the cemetery shared at the presentation can be found at BHC’s YouTube channel at the link below.
Our Lady of the Snows Cemetery Memorials
For more information on what’s happening at the BHC, visit our main News page: https://belgianheritagecenter.org/news/