The Catholic church recognizes the many emotions that family members experience when facing the death of a loved one. Surrounded by family and friends, accompanied by the prayers and sacraments of the Church, the time of death can be a graced moment when faith and family bonds are strengthened.
With this foundational understanding, the church encourages communication among family members well in advance of the need to make funeral and cemetery arrangements.
Those with responsibility for Catholic cemeteries uniformly encourage all families to consider the purchase of grave, crypt or niche spaces well in advance of need.
By purchasing burial rights either for a grave, or for a niche for cremated remains through Pre-Need Planning will assure that the time surrounding death is able to be devoted to family members supporting one another and proper planning of the liturgical rites that will celebrate the deceased’s movement to eternal life.
Contact with the cemetery office will begin the flow of information about burial alternatives and associated costs that may not be available in an immediate at-need situation. It will also bring the family peace of mind, and save money as burial costs increase over the years.