(December 12, 2007)

SARITA--There's a unique cemetery that has become a final resting place for many illegal immigrants whose bodies aren't claimed by their families in Kenedy County. For years, the cemetery was just a place to bury the remains, but then about a decade ago, a Catholic priest decided to change that.

It's a somber place to visit in Kenedy County, but the cemetery took on a new life eight years ago when a Kingsville Catholic priest decided to bury these undocumented immigrants with a touch of dignity.

On Kenedy Ranch, there's an immigrant cemetery with no names of those buried here. It's the remains of those undocumented people who died in the brush from dehydration or other means. These bodies were never claimed by their families.

"I felt sad for the people there and they're family didn't know they died and their family couldn't go there when they died," said Joshua Castro, a fifth grader attending St. Getrude Catholic School in Kingsville. 

Joshua Castro along with others from his Catholic school come here once a year to visit this cemetery. It started eight years ago thanks to Catholic Priest, Father Piotr Koziel. He said the cemetery was in bad shape so he brought in volunteers to clean it up.

"They're human beings they died tragically and at least they're buried with dignity, the place looks dignified,"said Father Piotr Koziel. 

Catholic students and other volunteers paint crosses for those who died in Kenedy County. They also have put in this big wooden cross along with religious statutes to remember the undocumented immigrants.

"Since we painted the crosses that we actually cared about them and we were doing something that made a difference," said Mary Phillips Hubert, a classmate of Castro at St. Getrude Catholic School. 

Being buried with dignity is one lesson the people have learned from coming out to this immigrant cemetery, but they also tell us it's the least they can do for these people who have died so far away from home.

"It is a feeling that you have done something because it is the right thing to do and you're satsified," Father Koziel said. 

That feeling of satisfaction is what keeps Father Koziel and his volunteers coming out here.

--Manuel De La Rosa, Area 3 News, mdelarosa@kiiitv.com