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July 13, 2010 St. Henry Kronsberg Cemetery, Dysart The Living Skies of Saskatchewan threatened rain but held off while about 70 people gathered here July 13 for the annual Mass for the Dead, the Konecsni family celebration of 100 years of music ministry and it all took place at what some locals and an author of ghost books describe as the most haunted place in Saskatchewan. The cemetery sits on the nub of a hill 6 miles south and 2 miles east (distances are still miles in the countryside) of Dysart about 100 yards west of a cairn marking the original site of St. Henry Church. Graves of the original district mostly German settlers and their descendents occupy the little hill with a panoramic view of the rolling countryside. St. Henry Kronsberg was established in 1906 and served the entire district until 1961 when it was closed after St. John the Baptist was established in Dysart. The local people still refer to Kronsberg but it now sits in the Rural Municipality of Lipton. The tradition of the Mass for the Dead began about 40 years ago, always on St. Henry’s feast day, and always celebrated outdoors rain or shine. The little chapel which once stored coffins waiting for spring when the ground could be broken for graves is just large enough now for an altar and artifacts from the original St. Henry Church. It faces north and its construction allows the priest’s words to be clearly heard at the rear of the crowd. Monsignor Reymundo Asis who serves St. John the Baptist from Southey, Saskatchewan said prayers for the dead are said to express unity of the church’s 3 memberships; The triumphant members who have gone to their reward in heaven, the suffering, and the militant who are still on earth. For the Konecsni family, who led the a cappella singing during the mass, it was a celebration of 100 years involvement in the music ministry. “My Dad was the cantor in the original St. Henry’s church,” said Joe who now plays the organ at St. John the Baptist Church in Dysart. Joe’s wife, Marlene is now the cantor. Konecsni daughters Caroline played the organ for 30 years,” she started when she was 11,” said her mother Marlene, “and Sarah played for 2 years.” Joe took over when the daughters moved and became unavailable. Author Jo-Ann Christensen in one of her ghost story books describes a dark winged creature that seems to hover around the cemetery and glowing globes that have been photographed at night that seem to hover over the graves and a little boy that has been seen wandering in the cemetery grounds. Marlene Konecsni said she is not aware of any locals who have experienced paranormal activity at the cemetery. “We prefer to let the souls rest in peace.” Although she did say that 2 of her nephews visited the cemetery one Halloween night and couldn’t stay there. Frank Flegel 
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