Grady Leneghan, 17, vividly remembers a Greek Orthodox funeral he attended last fall in Cleveland—what struck him most was that no family showed up. He was there as part of Saint Ignatius High School’s St. Joseph of Arimathea Pallbearer Ministry, which provides student pallbearers for funerals of people with no loved ones.
Founded in 2003 with just 12 students, the program now includes about 400 students annually and serves up to 180 funerals each year. Volunteers are trained not only in how to carry a casket with dignity but also in offering spiritual support.
Inspired by Saint Ignatius, similar programs have emerged at other Catholic schools across the U.S., including McQuaid Jesuit and the University of Detroit Jesuit. Many of the deceased are homeless, elderly, or estranged, and student pallbearers are sometimes the only ones in attendance besides clergy and funeral staff. Students say the experience is life-changing. “It makes you appreciate who you are,” said Leneghan. Others recall powerful moments of connection—like offering a sympathy card that moved a mourner to tears.
Some schools extend the service to veterans, holding funeral Masses and military honors for those who died alone. Rooted in Catholic social teaching, the ministry is seen as a “corporal work of mercy,” offering students a profound way to live out their faith. “It’s not always about grand gestures,” said senior Evan Solar. “Sometimes, it’s just about showing up.”