Divine Mercy shrine dedicated  at Mt. Calvary

by Therese Horvat
Special to The Leaven

OLATHE — Centrally located in Mt. Calvary Cemetery here, a new shrine to Divine Mercy stands as an inviting place for prayer and as a fitting memorial to deceased members of the Hutchinson family.

Inspired by Jim, their 90-year-old father, the Hutchinsons donated the stone grotto, statuary, patio and plant containers. Nick Paradise, of Jayhawk Plastics, Inc., Olathe, donated the seating.

The shrine is in remembrance of Margaret, Jim’s wife of 60 years, who died in September 2022, and Kim Mitchell, their daughter, who died in March 2025. Both are buried in close proximity to the shrine.

Jim and Margaret had a great devotion to Divine Mercy, explained Sharon Vallejo, president of Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas, the ministry that manages Mt. Calvary and eight other cemeteries in the archdiocese.

“I understand that they prayed the chaplet of Divine Mercy together every day,” Vallejo said, “and Jim has continued the practice daily at Margaret’s gravesite.”

Vallejo met the Hutchinsons several years ago through a transaction with their family-owned business, United Office Products in Olathe. Jim began the office furniture and supply company in 1971. He continues to go into the office daily.

In addition to a broad range of office products, the Hutchinsons sell the Divine Mercy and other religious statues through their business. However, Vallejo learned that Jim is known for donating Divine Mercy statues for placement wherever and whenever the right opportunity occurs. This includes parishes, schools and other Catholic organizations. Additionally, Jim always has small versions of the statue with him that he gives away regularly. Jim is a member of Prince of Peace Parish, Olathe.

Father John Riley, archdiocesan chancellor and vicar general and friend of the Hutchinson family, dedicated and blessed the new shrine on Aug. 14.

Mount Calvary Cemetery in Olathe dates to the late 1800s. For many years, it served as the cemetery of St. Paul Parish. In 1996, Catholic Cemeteries assumed management of the cemetery.

Plans are underway to expand the cemetery’s capacity with approximately 400 more burial spaces in the newly developed Divine Mercy Garden that will encompass the shrine donated by the Hutchinsons. The new garden will also feature a columbarium for cremated remains.

“We placed the shrine so that visitors to the cemetery could pray the chaplet of Divine Mercy or say prayers of their choice,” Vallejo concluded. “The location was important to Jim because he wants everyone to be able to appreciate the shrine as much as he and his family do.”