Mount Olivet Cemetery, owned and operated by St. Philip Roman Catholic Church, is located on South Avenue across from Oak Hill Cemetery. The cemetery has been an integral part of the local Catholic community since 1875. On Wednesday, March 1 of that year, The Battle Creek Journal announced:



"The Catholic congregation has purchased five acres of ground opposite the Oak Hill Cemetery, on the Fonda farm, for a Catholic burying ground."



The purchase of the cemetery property by St. Philip's second pastor, Father Joseph Seybold, was unpopular with many parishioners because the money used for the transaction had been raised to build a new church, not to buy a grave yard they felt was too far out of town.



On Wednesday, May 16, 1877, The Battle Creek Journal reported the following:



"The religious ceremonies incident to the consecration of the Catholic burying-ground in this city were celebrated at the Catholic Church, at the corner of Maple and Van Buren streets, Tuesday a.m. The services were conducted by Rev. Father Hanerdt, Vicar General of the Diocese, assisted Father Buoyse of Jackson, Father Callaert of Marshall and Father Seybold of this city. The attendance was large and the ceremonies imposing.



"The cemetery thus consecrated is located just west of Oak Hill Cemetery and is a very pleasant spot. It has already been considerably improved and when completed will be a very appropriate burial place for the dead."



Currently it is unclear exactly when the first burials took place at Mount Olivet, but on Friday, January 3, 1890, The Battle Creek Daily Moon printed:



"A number of the remains that were originally buried by our Catholic fellow citizens in Oak Hill are being removed to the cemetery of St. Philip's parish, across the road. Today the remains of Thomas A. Browning's mother that have been buried twenty years were thus removed."



Mass is celebrated at Mt. Olivet Cemetery 10:00 A.M. every Memorial Day and All Soul's Day, weather permitting.



If you need further information about Mount Olivet Cemetery, please contact:



St. Philip Roman Catholic Church



112 Capital Ave. N.E.



Battle Creek, MI 49017



(269) 968-6645