Catholic Cemeteries

For the one who dies, the journey is the completion of their earthly pilgrimage and their movement to God who judges all with truth and love and has the power to grant life in its fullness. For those who remain, another kind of journey begins. It is a journey of separation and loss, a time of confrontation with death that challenges our confidence, even our faith. For the bereaved family and friends, this may be a long road. Even years later the challenge may remain.

A critical stage of this journey for the human community is the period that begins at the moment of death and ends with the burial or entombment of the deceased. In the Catholic tradition, no one makes this journey alone.

The General Introduction of the Order of Christian Funerals teaches that “when a member of Christ’s Body dies, the faithful are called to a ministry of consolation to those who have suffered the loss of one whom they love. Christian consolation is rooted in that hope that comes from faith in the saving death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christian hope faces the reality of death and the anguish of grief but trusts confidently that the power of sin and death has been vanquished by the Risen Lord. The Church calls each member of Christ’s Body — priest, deacon, layperson — to participate in the ministry of consolation to care for the dying, to pray for the dead, to comfort those who mourn.” (OCF, 8)

“From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1032).

The celebration of the funeral Mass holds a particular importance for the family as well, since it enables them to receive the special consolation of Christ our Savior in Holy Communion.

When possible, those who were part of the Catholic community are buried in a Catholic cemetery. Not only is the Catholic cemetery a sacred place, a place of prayer, and a place reflecting our beliefs and traditions, it also expresses the communion of all the faithful, living and dead. It is recognition of the belief shared by the faithful departed and the living, who commit the bodies of their deceased to this holy place.

Increasing numbers of Catholic families are not exercising their right to the complete funeral liturgy. Today, many surviving family members are not returning the body of the deceased to the parish church for the funeral Mass. In many instances, other than perhaps the funeral liturgy outside of Mass, no Catholic rites are celebrated.

If we have demonstrated by our actions that the Mass is an important part of our life then we are showing not only God, but also our parish priest and family and friends that we would wish the Mass to be part of our funeral liturgy.

Advanced planning allows a person to express clearly his or her desire for a traditional Catholic funeral and burial in a Catholic cemetery providing for those wishes in a convenient, affordable manner.

It is blessed by the church and dedicated to God as a place for worship, prayer and reflection upon divine truth and the purpose of life. It is the resting place until the day of resurrection for the bodies of the faithful departed, once temples of the Holy Spirit, whose souls are now with God.

It is a final and continuing profession of faith in God and of membership in the Church by those who have chosen to be buried with fellow believers of “The Household of the Faith.”

“Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them O Lord.”