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Feature article July, 2006 Writing in a recent national Catholic Cemetery publication, Msgr. Patrick E. Brown, New Jersey, said, “Diocesan Catholic cemeteries stand as enduring and powerful signs of faith for entire geographic areas…In her wisdom, the Church has directed that the preferred place of burial for Catholics be with a Catholic cemetery.”
Two laywomen and two priests from the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas recently offered their personal and pastoral perspectives on why Catholics should choose Catholic cemeteries.
Together in life and death There is no doubt about it for Peggy Miller and Cynthia Bradbury. In recent years, both women worked at the Catholic Cemeteries office in Kansas City, Kan. The experience there confirmed their decisions about burial, but a number of other factors influenced their selection and their families’ purchase of burial plots. “In my living and my dying,” Peggy, Kansas City, Kan., said, “I want continuity in my relationship with God.” She has found that continuity in part through her association with Catholic cemeteries. When her father died in 1996, the reality of death struck Peggy and her husband Rob. The couple subsequently purchased their own burial plots—making the decision together and without emotional pressures. They had no way of knowing that only a few years later in 2003, Rob would die of cancer at age 41. Peggy, now 42 and an employee of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan., said the cemetery has remained an extension of the Church and a ministry to her. “I felt strongly enough about this to purchase plots for my children and their future spouses,” she said. Even though Cynthia is only 25 years old, she takes comfort in the fact that her family has 10 burial spaces reserved for their needs in a Catholic cemetery. Her grandparents and a young cousin are already at rest in that space. Respect for the faith and the blessed ground are important to Cynthia, who currently works with an insurance company. She suggested that younger people need to be educated about the value of Catholic cemeteries and about what goes into end-of-life decisions and experiences, including the costs. From a pastoral perspective For Rev. Ken Kelly, chairman of the Catholic Cemeteries Board of Trustees and pastor of St. Pius X Parish, Mission, Kan., Catholic cemeteries proclaim multiple doctrines and teachings of the “Catholic cemeteries are an outward expression of our unity as believers—even in death,” Father Kelly added. They also serve as “sacramentals”—visible reminders of the invisible reality of faith—in the estimation of Rev. Jeremiah Spencer, vice chairman of the Catholic Cemeteries Board, pastor of Holy Name Parish and chaplain at the University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, Kan. Both priests said ground at Catholic cemeteries is blessed and consecrated. Among other reasons to choose Catholic cemeteries, Father Kelly listed perpetual care, the availability of Eucharistic celebrations on special days (Memorial Day and All Souls’ Day) and ongoing prayers for the dead. On a final, but important note, Father Kelly commended staff of Catholic Cemeteries as very caring persons dedicated to serving the needs of people. “I see them when I’m presiding at funerals,” he said. “They are nice, considerate and helpful people.” |
Burial in a Catholic cemetery is a must for each of them and their families.
Family was also a key consideration in Cynthia’s situation. “Being of Hispanic descent,” the Olathe, Kan., resident said, “we are very family oriented. I’m always used to being with my family, and in the end, I want that also.”
Church. Among these, he included belief in the resurrection of the dead, the communion of saints, the corporal works of mercy and the sacredness of the body.
“Burial in a Catholic cemetery,” Father Spencer explained, “reflects the endpoint of the continuum of our Catholic way of life—from baptism and entrance into the faith community to our final resting place as we await resurrection.”
