b"PHOTOS BY DARREN SHIVERDECKERTo clean Weitkamps headstone, Joe uses a simple tombstones at San Fernando Cemetery 2, an Arch-process that takes only a few steps:diocese of San Antonio cemetery. You see so much First, he splashes water on the headstone to wash ego nowadays, and thats why I choose to be anony-away as much loose dirt as possible, then brushes mous.I dont want this to be about me. the front and back to remove the excess. Joe does document his work on Instagram (@san Next, he sprays on a biodegradable stain remover, fernando2stories), not only with before-and-after photoswhich is safe for headstones, before taking another of each headstone, but also with his research aboutbrush to scrub in the solution.the person named on each. A history professor at a Finally, he lets it sit before moving to the next stone community college, Joe conceived the cemetery projectand restarting the process. for his students to research and learn more about theAt St. Marys, each headstone takes Joe about 10 people buried at San Fernando Cemetery 2. minutes to complete, and he'll return to repeat the The inaugural trip was scheduled for Spring 2020,Above right: Joe pours plainwater onto tombstones toprocess numerous times throughout the year until but when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down every-remove surface dirt. all 270 headstones are completely clean.thing, Joe decided to research and document the findingsJoe agreed to an interview on the condition of on his own. What hes found shows the diverse historyAbove: He sprays a commercial anonymity because he isnt looking for recognition of San Antonio. cleaner, which is safe for tomb-stones, to dissolve years of grime.of his personal, cleaning ministry. Instead, as a prac- You see people from Spain, (as well as) Irish, Mexican,ticingand Marianist-educatedCatholic, Joe German, Englishtheres been all sorts of people,does this to give back to the men who gave him and Joe says. This shows where the community lived,others so much.where they immigrated to, who the doctors were andI think of St. Josemara Esciv who talked about the care they did or did not receive.not being prideful, says Joe, who also attends to Although he has a modest following on Instagram,12 Call 1.800.348.4732"