CATHOLIC Funerals and Burial by Most Rev. Donald W. Wuerl

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1 o perform the Corporal Work of Mercy of burying the dead and to care for their resting places; to preserve, promote and protect the Church s teachings on death and resurrection; and to console the bereaved. CAHOLIC Funerals and Burial by Most Rev. Donald W. Wuerl O ur Catholic faith calls us to a belief in life after death. I am the resurrection and the life, Jesus says, whoever believes in me though he should die, will come to life (Jn. 11:26). he pledge of everlasting life is a part of our heritage. Christian belief asserts that there is a resurrection of the body as well as the soul. As the prayer for the Mass for the dead relates: When the body of our earthly dwelling lies in death we gain an everlasting dwelling place in heaven. It is precisely because of our faith in the life to come and because our human body is a temple of God s Holy Spirit, that we take special care with what have so reverently been called the bodily remains after the soul has left the body. As part of a tradition going back to the earliest days of the church, we bring deceased loved ones to the parish church for the celebration of the Eucharist and the final farewell. Most fittingly, this takes place in the parish church because it is there that the follower of Christ received baptism into new life, was confirmed in the gifts of the Spirit, and was daily, weekly or regularly nourished with the body and blood of Christ at the Eucharist. It is in the parish church that we seek absolution, are married, celebrate first Communion and mark with our families the great events of our lives. he Catholic Funeral Plan, page 3 Development Projects, pages 4-5 Maintenance Miracles, page and Sacred Places, page 7 Memorial Prayer Service, page 8 INSIDE HIS ISSUE How appropriate it is then to be brought at the end of our life down the aisle of the same parish church in order that the Christian family, which is manifested in the parish, might join our family and friends in bidding us farewell and in asking God s mercy on us as we pass through the doors of death into what we pray will be a realm of eternal light, rest and peace. As the body is brought to the entrance of the church, the priest greets the family and mourners and sprinkles the coffin with holy water as a sign and reminder of our baptism into Christ's death and resurrection. A pall is placed over the coffin as a sign of the new life we have put on in Christ and as a pledge that we would one day be clothed in glory. he Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us: he church who, as Mother, has borne the Christian sacramentally in her womb during his earthly pilgrimage, accompanies him at his journey s end, in order to surrender him into the Father s hands. She offers to the Father, in Christ, the child of His grace, and she commits to the earth, in hope, the seed of the body that will rise in glory. his offering is fully celebrated in the Eucharistic sacrifice; the blessings before and after Mass are sacramentals (1683). I am often struck by how calm, reflective and peaceful the family and mourners become as the Eucharistic liturgy begins. he holy sacrifice of the Mass calls us beyond ourselves out of our own grief and loss into the sacramental and transcendent presence of God the God who wipes away every tear and makes all things new. (continued on page 2)

2 Catholic Funerals and Burial (continued) he ritual for the burial of the dead reminds us that the homily is to provide an instruction on our faith in the resurrection. More and more I am convinced of the wisdom of this instruction. here is a temptation to use this time to present a eulogy a summary of the person s life in praise and recognition of his or her accomplishments. Given the number of people present who are less aware of the teaching of the faith they profess than they are of the accomplishments of the deceased, the importance of using this time to explain what is happening in the context of our faith is all the more evident. Pastorally, it serves the interest of everyone involved to use the time reserved at the end of Mass after the final prayer but before the final commendation for those remarks, reflections and remembrances that speak to us of the great gift that the deceased has been and of the value of his or her life. In this way, both the human and faith dimensions of the believer are properly celebrated. At the conclusion of the Mass the priest sprinkles the body with holy water and incenses it because it has been a temple of the Holy Spirit and will be called to bodily resurrection on the last day. Finally, the body is taken to the grave site for interment. he church s preference is always for burial. he bodies of the dead must be treated with respect and charity, in faith and hope of the resurrection (CCC 2300). Catholic cemeteries exist to receive the remains for burial either interment (in the ground) or in a mausoleum to await the resurrection of the body on the last day. he ritual also makes provision for burial at sea. Catholic cemeteries continue to provide a ministry in the church that recognizes the uniquely Christian understanding of death. hey also provide us with holy ground where we can with some regularity, such as Memorial Day or All Souls Day, remember our dead, recall their goodness to us and ask God s blessing on them. We pray for the dead with the full awareness that we too shall follow in their steps. Any reflection on Christian funerals causes us to look at some more recent trends in our country. Currently as funerals become part of an ever increasing conglomerate business activity, the relationship of ones death, funeral and burial to one s faith life For example, in packaged funeral arrangements sometimes made long in advance of a person s death, no provision is made for transportation to and from the church for a funeral Mass. We need to make sure that when we make arrangements for our own death or that of a loved one, a funeral Mass in church and burial in a Catholic cemetery are included. Clearly burial of the bodily remains is the preferred manner of caring for the dead. However, the church permits cremation as long as it does not symbolize or demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body (CCC 2301). he origin of the objection to cremation was its use by some groups as a way of publicly proclaiming their rejection not only of Christian belief in the life to come but also Christian faith itself. In such instances, cremation was viewed as the alternate response to death a denial of the resurrection. Where there is no such denial, cremation, while not preferred, is acceptable. Surely the God who can restore the body from dust can also raise it up from ashes. Liturgically, the body of the dead person even if it has been cremated is blessed and is to be interred. here is no provision ritually in the church for the scattering of ashes. he cremated remains of a body should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium (Order of Christian Funerals, Appendix 2: Cremation, 417). he norms of the Diocese of Pittsburgh reflect this liturgical law. he burial of the dead is a corporal work of mercy; it honors the children of God who are temples of the Holy Spirit (CCC 2300). he death of the Christian is a sacred moment. Catholic funeral and burial rites are an integral aspect of our faith response to the mystery of life and death. How we treat the body of a deceased member of our faith community mirrors our deep conviction that it is Christ who gives meaning to each of us individually both in life and in death. PRE-PLANNING A Journey of Faith he Catholic Cemeteries Association has just introduced a new booklet entitled Journey of Faith. his helpful booklet discusses new and important advance planning options for Catholics who want to plan their funeral and burial in the Catholic tradition. Over the past 50 years, he Catholic Cemeteries Association has been a trusted friend in helping families deal with arrangements at the time of a death and before need. Some of the topics of the new booklet include: he importance of our faith in the planning process Why preplanning is preferred he benefits of preplanning Nearly 87% of all people recently contacted by a major polling group agree that preplanning for one s final arrangements makes good sense, but many put off the decision until it is too late. Preplanning puts the family in control of the arrangements and the cost of the arrangements at the time of death, and removes the financial and emotional burden from one s family. he booklet and the planning guide offered by he Catholic Cemeteries Association can be invaluable tools for getting your thoughts organized and recording your preferences for the future. For a free copy of the booklet and the options available to you call toll free at ebruary of 2004 marked the fifth anniversary of the introduction of the Catholic Funeral Plan SM Association president, Matthew Cahalan, said, In the five years that we have been promoting the plan thousands have affirmed the importance of Catholic funeral traditions in their lives and they want to ensure that these traditions are included in their plans. He also stated, While there were some misunderstandings about the plan early on, now that people are receiving the benefits of the plan at the time of death there is a clearer picture of how the plan works, not only with the general public but also among funeral directors. his past fall the Pennsylvania Department of State also provided some clarification about the plan. After a thorough review, the Pennsylvania Department of State affirmed that the Catholic Funeral Plan SM is a faith-based, funeral planning alternative designed specifically for the benefit of Catholic families, and it does not constitute the discussion or sale of funeral arrangements, the practice of funeral directing, or acting as a funeral director under Pennsylvania Law. he plan had been criticized in the past by some as being in violation of the laws regulating the sale of funeral services. his affirmation of the plan resolves those issues. he plan exists to preserve, promote and protect Catholic funeral and burial traditions. he Catholic Funeral Plan SM addresses concerns which are unique to Catholics and are typically not the focus of traditional funeral planning, including a person s preference for a funeral in the Catholic tradition. he plan also provides consumers with protection from higher future funeral costs and allows them to make changes to their plan without penalty should their funeral preferences or the city in which they live change. Under the plan the family maintains complete control of the funds until such time as the funeral services and merchandise have been provided. Only then is the funeral provider paid. At the time of death, CFSA personnel provide the family with assistance and guidance prior to their making final arrangements with the funeral home. he family is fully informed about the wishes of the deceased, Catholic funeral and burial rites, and the to the faithful of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. he plan is offered through he Catholic Family Security (continued on page 8) Association (CFSA), an affiliate of the Catholic [his article first appeared as an editorial in the Pittsburgh Cemeteries Association. Catholic Family Security 2 and church become more tenuous. Catholic.] 3 CAHOLIC FUNERAL PLAN Celebrates 5th Anniversary F Plan Receives State of Pennsylvania Affirmation

3 DEVELOPMEN Projects his year he Catholic Cemeteries Association opened three new in-ground sections for burials. A new section opened in St. Mary Cemetery, Lawrenceville, dedicated to the Blessed Mother under the title of the Immaculate Conception. A total of 354 in-ground spaces were added to inventory. A second new section opened at Christ Our Redeemer Cemetery in Ross ownship dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. his new section provides a total of 1473 new grave spaces to the cemetery. Calvary Cemetery in Hazelwood received an additional 1600 grave spaces in a new section dedicated to Christ s agony in the Garden of Gethsemene. In two of these new sections, a beautiful columbarium for cremated remains will be installed with a very impressive religious feature towering over the section. he two features will depict Mary s Assumption into heaven and Christ s Agony in the Garden. Call these cemetery offices if you would like additional information about these beautiful new developments. Following is an update on our current mausoleum projects. Holy Angels Chapel Mausoleum Located in Resurrection Cemetery, Moon ownship, Holy Angels Chapel Mausoleum was completed in 2002 and dedicated by Bishop Donald W. Wuerl on August 20, here are 2,607 spaces, including indoor chapel crypts and outdoor patio crypts. St. Matthew Garden Mausoleum Holy Savior Chapel Mausoleum Holy Family Chapel Mausoleum Construction on St. Matthew Garden Mausoleum, Good Shepherd Cemetery, Monroeville, is now complete. Dedication will be scheduled for mid summer. he mausoleum includes 384 garden crypts and 96 niches for cremated remains. On April 27, 2003, Bishop David A. Zubik presided over the groundbreaking for Holy Savior Chapel Mausoleum in Holy Savior Cemetery, Pine /Richland townships. Site development was complete in the fall of 2003, and construction is now well underway. On March 23, 2003, Holy Family Chapel Mausoleum in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Shaler, was dedicated by Bishop David A. Zubik. his beautiful mausoleum provides 690 indoor chapel crypts and outdoor garden crypts. Site development for Mary, Mother of the Church Chapel Mausoleum, Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Peters ownship, is scheduled to begin later this year. When completed, it will have a total of 3,548 crypt spaces to accommodate the above-ground burial needs of Catholics in southern Allegheny and Washington counties. Mary, Mother of the Church Chapel Mausoleum Our Lady of Hope Chapel Mausoleum Calvary Chapel Mausoleum Our Lady of Hope Chapel Mausoleum will be located in Our Lady of Hope Cemetery, arentum. Currently in the preconstruction phase, it will contain an impressive chapel and 679 crypt spaces when completed. On June 29, 2003, Bishop Donald W. Wuerl presided over the groundbreaking for a new chapel mausoleum in Calvary Cemetery, Pittsburgh. Site development and preliminary foundation work were completed in late Actual construction began in March of this year. his elegant chapel is in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel Mausoleum, Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Penn Hills. Many of these new crypts have already been selected. Discussions for Phase II of this project are already well underway. he Blessed Virgin Mary Garden Mausoleum in All Saints Catholic Cemetery was blessed on April 6, ogether with a twin building dedicated to the Sacred Heart, these projects provide 796 new crypts at this cemetery. Blessed Virgin Mary Garden Mausoleum Mary, Mother of Christ Chapel Mausoleum, St. Joseph Cemetery, North Versailles, is currently being offered to Catholic families on a preconstruction basis. It will include a beautiful chapel and a total of 1,944 crypts. Mary, Mother of Christ Chapel Mausoleum Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel Mausoleum he recently completed Sacred Heart Chapel Mausoleum in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Monongahela, has 276 interior chapel crypts and 408 exterior patio crypts. It was dedicated on September 10, Sacred Heart Chapel Mausoleum 5

4 MAINENANCE Miracles 911 For Parish Cemeteries 6 W ith over 3,900 burials and entombments a year and more than 700 acres of developed cemetery property, the labor required to bury the deceased and care for their resting places can be daunting. In addition to the 61 full-time cemetery workers employed by he Catholic Cemeteries Association, an additional 65 seasonal workers are hired to cut and trim the grass in our diocesan cemeteries. heir work requires appropriate equipment to extend their power and productivity. Equipment in terms of motorized vehicles alone is most impressive. Because our work is spread over 15 cemetery properties, our equipment needs are multiplied. he association requires 16 industrial backhoes, 15 dump trucks, 27 pickup trucks, 11 utility vehicles, 10 automobiles, and 64 tractors. Additional equipment includes trailers, mower decks, pullbehind mowers, casket lifts, soil shredder, chipper, and stump grinder. All of this equipment requires a formidable maintenance capability to keep everything in reliable and safe operating condition. he maintenance of our backhoes is managed through a third-party contractor who specializes in maintenance of heavy equipment. All other equipment maintenance is the responsibility of our Central Maintenance Department, where we have a staff of three highly skilled mechanics with a combined total of over 75 years experience in their profession. Rand Kovarik, the foreman, has been with the Association since His 25 years experience includes his position as a foreman with National School Bus where he was responsible for the maintenance of 200 buses and vans. At CCA, having a Pennsylvania inspection license, Rand personally performs the required annual safety inspections on more than 50 vehicles and equipment trailers. Bill McIntyre s 35 years of experience began by working on heavy industrial tractors when he was in high school. He has been an operator and mechanic on large backhoes, dozers, scrapers and off road dump trucks. Bill even had a brief stint as an operator of a tractor/trailer. In addition to his extensive mechanical capabilities, his skill set includes sophistication in welding and fabricating that are put to good use in our cemeteries and maintenance shop. om O Connor is the newest member of the Central Maintenance staff. He comes with impressive formal training in airframe and aircraft engines, having graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. om has an FAA license that certifies him to inspect all aircraft. His 16 years experience includes 11 years working on aircraft. he commitment of this crew to their profession is manifested by their ongoing investment in their own tools. While CCA provides significant tools and equipment for maintenance, professional mechanics typically purchase their own personal hand tools. his is a process that usually begins when they decide to embark on such a career. Bill still has his first tool a 1/2 inch ratchet that he acquired when he was 17. he money spent on their personal tools is quite an investment. he total spent on tools by the three members of the Central Maintenance staff totals about fifty thousand dollars. he Catholic Cemeteries Association is most fortunate to have this competent and committed maintenance crew. Even though their work is performed mostly behind the scenes, it is critical to the safe and professional maintenance of the diocesan cemetery properties. Gentlemen! Left to right: om O Connor, Rand Kovarik & Bill McIntyre hose who have relatives buried in parish cemeteries may be interested to know what he Catholic Cemeteries Association is doing to assist the parishes with the operation of their cemeteries. In February 1990 Bishop Donald Wuerl appointed he Catholic Cemeteries Association (CCA) as the central administrative office to supervise and monitor all the parish cemeteries throughout the diocese. his decision was the result of a diocesan committee s examination and assessment of all aspects of parish cemetery operations. In October 1990, the CCA established the office of Parish Cemetery Services, a department that is unique in the country as attested to by our observations at the Catholic Cemetery Conference conventions. Also unique are the major projects that have been completed for the 116 parish cemeteries of our diocese, which are affiliated with 82 parishes. One of the most beneficial projects to parish staffs has been the completion of the four-inch thick Parish Cemetery Procedures Manual, which took over ten years to develop. his manual has been purchased by ten other dioceses as well as numerous individual parishes outside of our diocese. SACRED PLACES Did You Know? I n the Diocese of Pittsburgh there are 16 diocesan cemeteries and 116 parish cemeteries. It is one of the largest Catholic cemetery systems in the country. he 16 diocesan cemeteries are owned and operated by he Catholic Cemeteries Association a nonprofit corporation established in 1952 to assist the diocesan bishop with his responsibility to provide sacred resting places for the faithful. he 116 parish cemeteries are owned and operated by the individual parishes to which they are attached. ypically, the diocesan cemetery properties are much larger than parish cemeteries because they were established to serve the burial needs of numerous parishes, while the parish cemeteries were established to serve the needs of one or two specific parish communities. Office Records and Procedures Seminars for parish cemetery staffs were begun in 1994 on a small scale for two or three parishes; and in 1996 and 1997, they were conducted for the entire diocese. Seminars for priests and business managers were also conducted in 1996 and 1997 geared to explaining various cemetery legal issues. Seminars continue to be conducted at the request of pastors with the responsibility of a parish cemetery. Another major project involved the calculation of adequate Perpetual Care Fund levels for each parish cemetery. his project was begun in 1993 and completed in he calculations are being updated for Perpetual care is only one of the complexities involved in cemetery operations. he department of Parish Cemetery Services provides an essential service to the diocese by lending administrative support to the 82 parishes that are responsible for our 116 parish cemeteries. Canon Law (the law of the Church) specifically identifies two places in this world as sacred places where the faithful worship (our churches), and places where the faithful are buried (our cemeteries). (Canon 1205) Our Catholic cemetery properties are sacred places not only because they have been specially set apart by a blessing or consecration, but also because of the holy activity that takes place there. Our cemeteries hold the earthly remains of the deceased, once temples of the Holy Spirit, until Christ returns on the last day. It is a sacred place because prayers are offered and liturgies are celebrated there. Our Catholic cemeteries are an extension of the parish community a community of believers that is unbroken by death. he Catholic cemetery is a constant reminder to us that we are citizens of two worlds this world and the world to come. 7

5 CCA SPONSORS Memorial Prayer Services I t is a long tradition in the Church that we pray for the dead. Avid readers of the Pittsburgh Catholic will notice in the Calendar of Events section of the paper that HE CAHOLIC CEMEERIES ASSOCIA- ION sponsors a Memorial Prayer Service at one of our diocesan cemetery chapels on almost every Sunday afternoon. Letters are sent out to the families of those recently deceased inviting them to come to the cemetery where their loved one was buried and remember them in prayer. hese prayer services are coordinated by Sister Patricia M. Buranosky OSF, Pastoral Consultant for he Catholic Cemeteries Association. he prayer services are led by pastoral ministers and deacons from the local parishes and sometimes a guest priest. hese memorial prayer services have been a source of great consolation and peace to the hundreds of families who have participated in the last few years. LIGH FOR HE J O U R N E Y he Church s special liturgical rites following the death of a loved one provide the opportunity to gather in prayer for the deceased and for ourselves, and to receive the consolation of our faith. here are three stations along this journey of faith. Vigil for the Deceased he Vigil for the Deceased is the principal rite celebrated by the Christian community in the time following death and before the funeral liturgy. (Order of Christian Funerals [OCF], 54) he community gathers to keep watch with the family in prayer to the God of mercy. (OCF, 56) he vigil has the form of a liturgy of the word, with prayers, biblical readings, and selected songs. It is led by a priest or deacon or, in some cases, by a specially delegated layperson. he vigil places our hearts in touch with the memory of the deceased and prepares us for the unique purpose of the funeral liturgy. he Funeral Liturgy his is the central liturgical celebration for the deceased. Whenever possible, this rite includes the celebration of the Mass. Ideally, we bring the body of our deceased brother or sister to the parish church. With marks of tenderness and solidarity, we honor that body as God s creation and the baptized temple of the Holy Spirit. We then carry the body to its final place of rest, where it will await the resurrection on the last day. Rite of Committal his is the final act of the community of faith in caring for the body of its deceased member. (OCF, 204) he rite is celebrated at the place of burial or entombment, and with prayer and song, the family and the community of faith let go of the earthly remains of the departed. he funeral journey, begun at the time of death, comes to its completion. We take solace in our faith, which proclaims that the grave or tomb has been transformed by Christ into a sign of hope and promise. Anyone who wishes to attend any of these services is welcome. Just watch the schedule published weekly in the Pittsburgh Catholic. Catholic Funeral Plan Celebrates 5th Anniversary (continued from page 3) funds available. Any funds in the plan that exceed the cost of the funeral are paid to the family. Enrollment in he Catholic Funeral Plan SM continues to grow since its introduction five years ago. In that time it has proven to be an invaluable resource for hundreds of families whose loved ones were protected by the plan at the time of death. Mr. Cahalan noted, Nearly every week we receive some sort of card or note from an appreciative Catholic family who has received the benefits of the plan. his plan was designed for the benefit of Catholic families and we are pleased to provide that benefit. hrough the provision of the Catholic Funeral Plan SM CFSA has accomplished its mission of preserving, promoting and protecting Catholic funeral and burial traditions. A number of other dioceses around the country are now also implementing he Catholic Funeral Plan SM following its successful implementation in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. For more information about the Catholic Funeral Plan SM call toll free at CAHOLIC CEMEERIES ASSOCIAION 718 Hazelwood Avenue Pittsburgh, PA