A group of high school students volunteer to carry caskets for homeless veterans who have no family to honor them. The St. Joseph of Arimathea Pallbearer Ministry at University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy is a student-driven program offering pallbearer services for homeless individuals, veterans, and others without loved ones to commemorate them at their funerals.

Launched in 2015, it reflects the school’s ethos of “Men for Others” and draws inspiration from a comparable ministry at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland.

Participating students receive training on funeral protocols and the significance of honoring the deceased with dignity. Prior to each service, they come together for prayer and, when feasible, learn about the individual’s life.

Following the funeral, they reflect on their involvement, often gaining a deeper sense of compassion and civic duty. Many graduates continue to pursue community service, influenced by their time in the program.