Frequently Asked Questions

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Flags are permitted provided they are placed in the approved planter boxes and containers, as stated in our Grave Decoration Policy, and do not exceed 30" in height. Decorations will be removed when and if they become tattered, faded or unsightly.

The church expects the burial of Catholics in Catholic cemeteries. To avoid breaking close family ties, non-Catholic members of Catholic families may be interred in a Catholic cemetery. In the Archdiocese, Catholic burial, including the funeral Mass, is permitted for a baptized non-Catholic who might reasonably be presumed to desire or prefer Catholic burial services. Such a decision would be appropriate where the non-Catholic party worshipped regularly at the Catholic Church or identified with the Catholic Church more than any other.

Any grave or crypt purchased from the Catholic Cemeteries, may be exchanged or returned. The return of monument lots and crypts is subject to some restrictions and each case must be reviewed before a refund is given. This policy protects families if conditions change or especially if there is a relocation. Any grave and / or crypt may be exchanged for graves or crypts in another section, or in another Catholic Cemetery in the Archdiocese. The credit for exchanging graves or crypts is determined by the purchase price of the new unit selected, or the current price of the unit being exchanged. In any exchange, the credit given will never be less than the original purchase price. Any refund for unused graves/crypts is based on the original purchase price. Effective July 1, 2022, all new purchases, if cancelled after three days, will be charged a $350.00 cancellation fee.

Many purchases are made under our very reasonable monthly payment plan. Full payment is required only when a grave or crypt is used. Payment plans are without interest or carrying charges, so families generally find it more economical to use the plan than to withdraw from savings. The low down payment and interest free monthly payments are determined by the number of units selected and not by the cost of the purchase. Monthly payments are extended over a reasonable length of time. At the present time cash, check, or credit cards are acceptable forms of payment.

There are situations that arise where a family may not need the graves or crypts that they purchased and wish to transfer the control of them to another member of their family. The transfer is called, Granting Full Use and Control. This means that the new family member, "Easement Holder", now has the same right as the original easement holder had, meaning the right to reserve graves or crypts or even return the graves or crypts to the cemetery for a cash refund. In order to transfer control of graves or crypts the easement must be paid in full. The owner of the graves or crypts must fill out a Full Use and Control document, with all signatures notarized, and return it to the cemetery office for final approval. The form and additional information about the transfer of graves and crypts is available at the cemetery office.

Cremation may be a confusing issue for Catholics. At one time, the church prohibited cremation but this is no longer the case. In 1963, the Catholic Church lifted its prohibition forbidding Catholics to choose cremation. Canon 1176 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law states, “The Church earnestly recommends the pious custom of burying the bodies of the dead be observed, it does not however, forbid cremation unless it has been chosen for reasons which are contrary to Christian teaching.”

Catholics believe that we are created in the image and likeness of God, and that all of God's creation is sacred. Just as the body should be treated with respect in life, so should it be treated in death. As Catholics we believe that “in baptism the body was marked with the seal of the Trinity and became the temple of the Holy Spirit,” and as such, “Christians respect and honor the bodies of the dead and the places they rest” (OCF 19). During life our body was baptized into the Lord and His promise of eternal life.

From the earliest days of Christianity, cremation was seen as a pagan ritual perceived to be contrary to this and other Catholic teachings, and therefore prohibited by the Catholic Church.

Today, cremation is only prohibited if the person choosing cremation is doing so to deny Christian teachings, especially that of the resurrection of the dead and the immortality of the soul.

What we commonly call "ashes" are really not ash as we know it, but bone particles. The proper terminology of the remains of the body after cremation is cremated remains of the body. The Church also holds that these remains be treated with the same respect that the body was treated with prior to cremation, including the use of a "worthy vessel" or urn for the cremated remains of the body.

The church strongly prefers that cremation takes place after the full Funeral Liturgy where the body is present. "This is the body once washed in baptism, anointed with the oil of salvation, and fed with the bread of life." The Church's belief in the sacredness of life and the resurrection of the dead encourages us to celebrate the funeral liturgies with the body present while affirming the value of human life. As Catholics we celebrate our funeral liturgies, because they recall Christ's victory over death. With His victory, comes our promise of eternal life.

If it is not possible for the body to be present at the Funeral Mass, permission has been granted by the Catholic Church which provides for the celebration of the Funeral Mass with the cremated remains of the body present in church. Since it is the 'earthly remains' and not the body of the deceased that is present, there are slight adaptations in the liturgy. In some dioceses, local permission is needed for the cremated remains of the body to be present at Mass.

The Order of Christian Funerals presents the Church's plan for the celebration of the death of one the faithful. These rites assume the presence of the body, but adaptations are available for those choosing cremation. The Order of Christian Funerals consists of three parts:

1. Vigil and Related Rites and Prayers
2. Funeral Liturgy
3. Rite of Committal

The "Vigil and Related Rites and Prayers" gives the family and friends an opportunity to gather in the presence of the deceased and offer support and prayers to and for each other as well as the deceased, and recall their Christian life. The "Funeral Liturgy", frequently celebrated within Mass, but which may be celebrated outside of Mass, allows us to relive the Easter mystery and Christ's promise of eternal life. The "Rite of Committal" is our farewell to our beloved brother or sister in Christ. At this time we turn over the care of our loved one to the cemetery as we await the resurrection of the dead along with the communion of saints.

Prior to cremation, arrangements should be made among the familiy of the deceased, the crematorium, the funeral director and the cemetery concerning the disposition of the cremated remains of the body.

Most crematoriums will ship the cremated remains of the body via registered mail, or some other secure service, to the person who is responsible for them.

Upon receipt, the cremated remains of the body should be treated with respect in the way they are handled, transported, cared for and in their final disposition.

The cremated remains of the body should be buried or entombed. The scattering of the cremated remains of the body, or the keeping of them at home, or the dividing of them among various family members is not the reverent disposition the church requires.

Most Catholic cemeteries have grave space or crypt space or niches for the cremated remains of the body. This allows for visitation, memorialization and prayers.

At the cemetery, a final prayer "The Rite of Committal", is prayed as the cremated remains of the body are laid to rest.

Recognizing that the goal of our lives is eternal life with God, we prepare for that by prayer, reception of the sacraments and care for those around us. Preparation for death is an essential part of life for a Christian.

In today's society, for some, choosing cremation is part of that preparation for death. The Church continues to prefer and encourage the faithful to bury or entomb the bodies of their departed loved ones. However, if cremation is chosen for worthy motives, the church wishes to support the faithful in honoring the life and memory of the departed.