• A Message from the Archbishop
• Mission Statement
• Our History
• Assumption Catholic Cemetery & Funeral Home
• Christ the King Catholic Cemetery
• Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery & Funeral Home
• Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery
• Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery & Funeral Home
• Resurrection Catholic Cemetery
• St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery
• St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery
• Funeral Services
• What Makes a Cremation Catholic?
• Advance Planning
• Burial Options, Mausoleum Crypt Entombment
• Cremation
• Ground Burial
• The Catholic Funeral

Mission Statement

• Compassionate Care of our families and friends before, during and after the burial of a loved one
• Cemeteries, for the sacred religious function of burial and to preserving these resting places as a symbol of our Catholic Faith
• Funeral Services within a Catholic environment, according to The Order of Christian Funerals

Our History

For the first half of the nineteenth century most of Toronto’s Roman Catholics were buried in parish cemeteries, notably St. Paul’s Church on Power Street.

St. Paul’s Church was established in 1822 and the large property behind the Church served as its cemetery. In 1845, Bishop Michael Power began construction of St. Michael’s Cathedral with plans to have a cemetery attached. These plans were altered with the heavy immigration of Irish Catholics fleeing the potato famine, and the outbreak of the typhus epidemic. The large number of deaths, including Bishop Power’s in 1847, quickly filled the parish cemeteries. Bishop de Charbonnel, the second Bishop of Toronto, responded to the needs of his people by purchasing property near the corner of Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue. On September 28, 1855, St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery was consecrated.

St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Barrie opened in 1867. Originally meant to meet the needs of St. Mary’s Parish, it now serves all the parishes of Barrie and surrounding area.

As the Catholic Community grew, Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery opened its gates on Erskine Avenue in 1900. At that time parish cemeteries continued to meet the needs of the population outside of the City of Toronto. After World War II, the Archdiocese experienced unprecedented growth. The once predominantly Irish Catholic Church was soon transformed into a multi-cultural mosaic. The Archdiocese of Toronto recognized the need for more cemeteries due to the growing number of Catholic European immigrants to Toronto. In 1954, Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery opened on Yonge Street in Thornhill, north of Toronto. In 1964, Resurrection Catholic Cemetery opened to serve the Durham area. In 1968, Assumption Catholic Cemetery opened in Mississauga; in 1985, Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery opened in Woodbridge. In 2004, His Eminence Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic consecrated the grounds for Christ the King Catholic Cemetery to serve the faithful in the Scarborough and Markham areas.

In 2004, recognizing the acceptance of cremation as an option for Catholics, Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services opened the first Catholic crematorium in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services has also evolved with the needs and demands of the Catholic community. Today most of our cemeteries offer a wide variety of burial options from traditional ground burial to crypt burial in our spacious mausoleums, as well as the burial/ entombment of cremated remains.

Keeping the promise to always serve our faithful departed in a greater capacity, our ministry expanded to include funeral services in 2014. At our three funeral homes located at Assumption, Queen of Heaven and Holy Cross Cemeteries, families can arrange their funeral, cremation and burial needs in one convenient location.

The Archdiocese of Toronto has cared for the needs of its Catholic Faithful from Toronto’s earliest beginnings. Today Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services will continue this tradition to fulfill its mission to offer compassionate care to our families and friends before, during and after the interment of a loved one.

Assumption Catholic Cemetery

Consecrated to God in 1968 and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Assumption Catholic Cemetery serves the people and parishes of Mississauga, Brampton, Etobicoke and surrounding area. Upon entering the main gates, we are greeted by the statue of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven reminding us that, like Mary, we will all one day be joined with her and our loved ones with God in heaven. Flanked by two angels, this prayerful feature overlooking the pond offers a sense of serenity to visitors.

Reflecting the mosaic that is our Archdiocese, Assumption Catholic Cemetery boasts many shrine sections dedicated to our ethnic communities. The cemetery offers a choice of burial options, including graves permitting a flat bronze marker and lots that permit upright monuments in addition to cremation and mausoleum burial choices. In 2004, a piece of the Catholic history of the Archdiocese was restored when the relocated site of Elmbank Cemetery, home for the area’s Irish Pioneers for 100 years, was rededicated at Assumption Catholic Cemetery.

Our Lady of Fatima Mausoleum at Assumption Catholic Cemetery
Mausoleum entombment is an ancient yet also a modern method of laying our loved ones to rest. Our Lady of Fatima Mausoleum offers the comfort and solace of above-ground burial. This prayerful building expresses our Catholic faith and our devotion to the Blessed Mother. The prominent feature is a stunning mosaic depicting Our Lady’s appearance at Fatima.

Our Lady of Fatima Mausoleum features the ageless beauty and durability of granite crypt fronts for casket burial. Granite and glass front niches where urns may be placed are located throughout the building. The mausoleum is accessible for prayer and visitation year-round, climate controlled and wheelchair accessible. Restrooms are provided for your comfort.

Assumption Catholic Cemetery administers the following cemeteries:

• Mount Peace Catholic Cemetery (Mississauga)
• St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery (Streetsville)
• St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery (Brampton)
• St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery (Port Credit)

Christ the King Catholic Cemetery

Consecrated in 2004 by Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic, Christ the King Catholic Cemetery provides burial services to the Catholic families of Markham, Scarborough and Pickering as it is conveniently located on the borders of all three communities.

The focal point of our cemetery is a majestic 20-foot statue of Christ the King, the Victor over death. The rolling hills with mature trees are complimented by a beautiful pond and manicured flower beds. The cemetery offers a selection of burial choices including ground burial in monument lots, flat marker and cremation graves, as well as cremation entombment in a peaceful country setting. Lawn crypts and family mausoleums are also available for those who prefer above-ground burial. Shrines in honour of the Holy Family, Pieta, Sermon on the Mount, Risen Christ, Infant of Prague and the Blessed Mother offer visitors inspiration, comfort and peace.

On the grounds of Christ the King Cemetery is our beautiful reception centre, which overlooks the cemetery and is a place where family and friends can share fellowship following the burial of a loved one. This is a particularly thoughtful gesture to those who must travel some distance after the funeral. We offer a variety of hot and cold menus that suit all tastes and budgets.

Christ the King Catholic Cemetery administers:

• St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery (Scarborough)
• Our Lady of Victory Catholic Cemetery (Scarborough) Queen of Clergy Catholic Cemetery (Scarborough)
• St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery (Markham)

Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery

In 1954, Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery opened its gates to minister to the unprecedented rush of Catholic immigrants that flooded into post-World War II Toronto. Over the past 60 years Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery has progressively grown to its present size of 145 acres, stretching from Yonge Street to Bayview Avenue.

The cemetery’s name recognizes the universal symbol for Christianity, the sign of Redemption, the Holy Cross. Rather than being a sign of suffering and death, the Holy Cross now assures us that death has been replaced with eternal life.

A complete selection of burial options is available including mausoleum and cremation entombment as well as ground burial in monument lots, flat marker and cremation graves. With the opening of Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home in 2014, families can now arrange all of their funeral, cremation and burial needs in one convenient location.

Holy Family Mausoleum and Holy Trinity Mausoleum
Two of the most prominent features at Holy Cross Cemetery are Holy Family Mausoleum and Holy Trinity Mausoleum. Both buildings feature the ageless beauty of Mediterranean marble and are accentuated by stunning bronze artworks, statues and hand painted murals. Each mausoleum offers families a variety of entombment options, including reserved areas for the entombment of cremated remains. Families who choose cremation entombment can select from traditional marble or contemporary glass front niche options. For families wishing to secure a secluded area for themselves and future generations a number of private family rooms are available. Both mausoleums are wheelchair accessible, climate controlled and have restrooms on every floor for your comfort.

Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home

Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home, blessed by His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, is the first Catholic funeral home in Ontario. Located on the grounds of Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, families can arrange all of their funeral, cremation, burial and reception needs in one convenient location. A family coming to Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home will have every opportunity to receive accurate information regarding all of the important decisions and choices that concern a funeral. Consideration has been given to offer options that will suit all budgets, tastes and traditions.

We are committed to doing everything possible to help you and your family plan for the funeral or memorial of your loved one. We will do this with the highest level of professionalism and dignity for the living and the deceased.

Chapel of St. Joseph
One of the most unique features of the funeral home is the Chapel of St. Joseph. Blessed by His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, the Chapel holds a special designation within the Archdiocese of Toronto that allows a funeral Mass to be celebrated. While we have a priest and deacon to assist you, you are more than welcome to have your parish priest come to say prayers at the visitation and funeral at our funeral home. The Chapel of St. Joseph is fully accessible and is equipped to webcast the funeral Mass throughout the building or to loved ones anywhere in the world.

Visitation Rooms
Each one of our spacious and welcoming visitation rooms honour the rich heritage of our Archdiocese. Honouring past Cardinals and Bishops of the Church, beginning with Bishop Michael Power, Toronto’s first Bishop, these rooms offer a prayerful place to receive family and friends.

Lounge
We provide a quiet area for family and friends to have refreshments during visitation. Immediate family can use our lounge to have a meal between visitation times.

Reception Facilities
Following the rite of committal, Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home continues to offer consolation and mutual support by offering a welcoming environment for families and friends to gather. Our reception facilities can accommodate up to 200 guests. We can provide a wide variety of hot or cold catering options that fit any budget. With state-of-the-art technical support, video or pictorial remembrances can be shared on monitors throughout the funeral home.

Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery

In 1900, Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery opened its gates to care for the growing Catholic community of Toronto. Over the next century Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery became the resting place for many Catholics who shaped and built our city, leaders in culture, arts, government, entertainment, scholarship, sports and the Church.  Many of the religious orders who contributed to the formation of the early Church in Toronto also rest here. The collection of unique family mausoleums and monuments that stand among the great natural beauty of mature trees and shrubbery speak of their faith.

As the needs of the Catholic community have evolved so has Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery. Rich in heritage, it continues to be a hidden gem in the heart of Toronto providing both ground and cremation burial options.

Holy Rosary Columbarium Garden at Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery
Our Catholic tradition, cremation commands the same dignity and respect as full body burial. One of the decisions that families face when cremation is selected is how to proceed with placement of the cremated remains once the process of cremation is completed. This means placement in a worthy container, and all who handle them should do so with care and reverence until final burial.

Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery offers columbaria niche burial for families who have selected cremation. The Holy Rosary Columbarium Garden is a free-standing columbarium, which was blessed by Reverend M. Pearse Lacey. These beautifully sculptured columbaria contain cremation niche spaces where urns may be placed. A bronze plaque with a photo may be attached to the niche to memorialize the deceased.

Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery

In response to the rapid growth of the Catholic population north west of Toronto, Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery was consecrated by Archbishop Gerald Emmett Cardinal Carter in 1985.  The cemetery is located on Highway 27 south of Highway 7 in Woodbridge.

Prayer Garden Queen of Heaven Cemetery
Honouring Mary, Queen of Heaven, the entrance of the cemetery is graced with a fountain under her maternal gaze, which offers a tranquil setting for prayer and reflection. Our prayer garden is complimented by bronze reliefs of the Stations of the Cross. The cemetery offers a full range of interment choices including ground burial, cremation and mausoleum entombment.

St. Anthony’s Mausoleum at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery is highlighted by St. Anthony’s Mausoleum with its spectacular main chapel mosaic. This two-storey high mosaic depicts Our Risen Lord, Our Blessed Mother and St. Anthony, its patron.

St. Anthony’s Mausoleum features the ageless beauty of Mediterranean marble. Glass and marble niches where urns with cremated remains may be placed are also available in unique locations throughout the mausoleum.

The mausoleum is both climate controlled and wheelchair accessible. Restrooms are available for your comfort. For those wishing to keep their families together, there are private family rooms available.

Queen of Heaven Catholic Funeral Home

We are proud to announce that Queen of Heaven Catholic Funeral Home, located on the grounds of Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery will be opening in 2025. Families will be able to arrange all of their funeral, cremation, burial and reception needs in one convenient location. A family coming to Queen of Heaven Catholic Funeral Home will have every opportunity to receive accurate information regarding all of the important decisions and choices that concern a funeral.

Resurrection Catholic Cemetery

Named to honour the central event of our Catholic Faith, Resurrection Catholic Cemetery has been serving the Catholic community in Durham region since 1964. To meet the needs of our families, the cemetery offers a full range of interment choices providing for ground burial, cremation and mausoleum entombment.

A focal point of the cemetery, the beautiful Prayer Garden of the Evangelists, offers an oasis of peace and reflection to all who visit. Many of the Archdiocesan Priests, who have served the Durham Region, rest in a special section next to the prayer garden. Acknowledging the great work done by the Knights of Columbus and their families, Resurrection Catholic Cemetery also features a section dedicated to them, watched over by their patroness, Our Blessed Mother.

Resurrection Catholic Cemetery administers the following cemeteries: St. Francis De Sales and St. Wilfred’s Catholic Cemeteries (Ajax) St. Gregory’s Catholic Cemetery (Oshawa) St. John the Evangelist Catholic Cemetery (Whitby)

Our Lady of the Assumption Mausoleum at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery
Our Lady of the Assumption Mausoleum offers the comfort and solace of above-ground burial. The prominent feature is a stunning mosaic depicting the Assumption of our Blessed Mother into Heaven, which graces the main committal chapel. The mausoleum affords families the ability to visit loved ones year-round sheltered from the elements. Special event days are hosted throughout the year to join together as a community to celebrate the lives of those gone before us.

St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery

Consecrated in the year of Confederation, 1867, St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery has been an integral part of the Catholic community in Barrie for almost 150 years.  Rich in heritage, the cemetery is centrally located on Sunnidale Road across from Sunnidale Park. Originally meant to meet the needs of St. Mary’s Parish, the cemetery has grown with the city and the Catholic community to now also serve St. John Vianney Parish, Holy Spirit Parish and Our Lady of Grace Parish in Angus and the surrounding area. St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, steeped in Barrie’s past and rich in heritage, is poised to serve Barrie’s Catholics in the future.

A selection of burial options is available including ground burial and cremation entombment. Lawn crypts and family mausoleums are also available for those who prefer above-ground burial.

Funeral Services

Sharing Your Faith, Understanding Your Loss.

Discover the convenience of our onsite funeral homes located within the serene surroundings of our Catholic cemeteries, dedicated to meeting your needs.

Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home

Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home, blessed by His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, is the first Catholic funeral home in Ontario. Located on the grounds of Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, families can arrange all of their funeral, cremation, burial and reception needs in one convenient location. A family coming to Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home will have every opportunity to receive accurate information regarding all of the important decisions and choices that concern a funeral. Consideration has been given to offer options that will suit all budgets, tastes and traditions.

Queen of Heaven Catholic Funeral Home

Queen of Heaven Funeral Home will be opening in 2025.

Assumption Catholic Funeral Home

At Assumption Catholic Funeral Home, located at Assumption Catholic Cemetery in Mississauga, families can arrange all of their funeral, burial and cremation needs in one convenient location.

What Makes a Cremation Catholic?

The Church, the Liturgy and the Catholic Cemetery. In 1984, the Roman Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments granted permission to the Church in Canada for the funeral liturgy, including the Funeral Mass, to be celebrated with the cremated remains of the deceased person present. This is permissible when the choice of cremation is not inspired by motives contrary to Christian teaching and when the bishop of the diocese gives permission. At the funeral Mass, the cremated remains, in a dignified container, are placed on a small table provided for this purpose. The liturgy concludes with the final commendation and the subsequent interment of the remains. The Church asks that in keeping with a spirit of reverence, the cremated remains be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or niche provided for this purpose. When the body has been or will be cremated, appropriate adaptions are made to the prayers of committal and signs of farewell. (National Liturgy Office, “Catholics and Cremation,” 1998.)

For Catholics Choosing Cremation
Many Catholics are unaware that the Church has accepted cremation since 1963. Since that time, the practice has increased in many countries for a number of reasons. Unfortunately, with this increase comes practices that require clarification. Following the most ancient Christian tradition, the Church asks that the faithful, in preparing their funeral and burial arrangements, ensure that the bodies of Catholics are buried in cemeteries or other sacred places.

When, for legitimate reasons, cremation has been chosen, the ashes of the faithful must be laid to rest in a sacred place, that is, in a cemetery or, in certain cases, in a church or an area set aside for this purpose, and so dedicated by the bishop.

According to Church teaching, scattering cremated remains on the sea, in the air, on the ground, or keeping them in the homes of relatives does not display appropriate reverence.

There is a spiritual and emotional benefit for placing cremated remains in a proper place of burial. It gives the bereaved and the Church community a place to focus remembrance and pray for the deceased. Such a place will make it easier to memorialize those that have been called home to God.

Advance Planning

One of the most important things that you can do is to plan your estate, funeral and final burial arrangements within the guidelines of your faith. Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services are available to make group presentations to provide free information about pre-planning your cemetery and funeral arrangements.

There are a number of benefits to pre-planning your cemetery and funeral arrangements.

• You and your family will have peace of mind knowing that your funeral and burial wishes are met. To pre-arrange is an act of kindness to those we love.
• Pre-planning will greatly relieve your family of the emotional stress of making difficult decisions at the time of death.
• Pre-planning will relieve your family of the costs associated with making arrangements when a death occurs. Pre-planning is a vital part of estate planning. It allows you to make informed decisions concerning your burial decisions and memorialization options.
• It allows a family to work within a budget that they can afford today, at today’s prices as opposed to tomorrow’s.
• Extended interest-free monthly payment plan options are available.
• Pre-planning provides direction to the executor of your estate.
• Secures a final resting place in consecrated ground near family and friends.
• Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services – Archdiocese of Toronto provides caring and knowledgeable counsellors to help you make the decisions best suited to your needs. Family counsellors speak a variety of languages, and are understanding and respectful of cultural and traditional needs.

Learn More Here

Burial Options, Mausoleum Crypt Entombment

Mausoleums originate in Catholic tradition and practice from the burial of Our Savior. Scripture tells us that Joseph of Arimathea took the body of Jesus, wrapped it in a shroud and put him in a tomb which had been hewn in the stone. (Luke 23: 52-54). This custom flourished in the early Christian Church in the catacombs.

Today, a mausoleum is a building that contains a number of crypts and niches for the entombment of the deceased. A crypt is a space prepared for the entombment of human remains in a mausoleum and a niche is a space designed for the entombment of cremated remains. Mausoleum burial provides families with the option of year-round visitation, regardless of the weather, in a beautiful, inspirational setting.

Crypt fronts are made from polished marble or granite. Memorialization is provided in the form of bronze lettering or inscribing of granite depending on the mausoleum. Crypt fronts can be personalized with a photo of the deceased and an epitaph. Memorial lights are available on all crypt fronts.

Each mausoleum offers a selection of entombment options. Most mausoleums are built to accommodate four, five and sometimes six crypt levels. Our mausoleums offer a number of crypt styles to choose from, priced to meet your wishes and budget.

For families who wish to ensure spaces for future generations, family rooms are also available.

Cremation Burial Options

Cremation Columbaria are granite structures with niches where urns with cremated remains may be placed. Bronze plaques are attached to the niche to memorialize the deceased.

Cremation Niches are available in all of our mausoleums. Marble, granite as well as glass front niches are available in either single or double spaces.

Cremation Grave or Family Lots are another option for those choosing ground burial of cremated remains.

Memorial Urns are available for purchase at all of our cemetery offices. We offer the finest selection of urns in a variety of unique colours, materials and designs. Cultured marble, cast bronze, artisan metal or mahogany are a sample of the types of urns that are available. Both single and companion urns are available.

Ground Burial Options

Flat Bronze Marker Graves
Ground burial is available in flat marker graves. A flat marker grave is a grave where a bronze marker is set flush to the ground with a granite base. It is a single grave that can accommodate a maximum of two interments. These flat bronze marker graves are located in Shrine sections featuring beautiful statues surrounded by carefully maintained flower gardens.

Upright Monument Lots
Upright monuments are made from granite because of its durability, its reasonable price and its availability in a wide range of colours. Upright monuments come in a wide variety of styles, shapes and sizes, providing a full range of creative and personalized works of art. There are single, double, triple and quad lots, which can accommodate upright monuments. Upright Monument Lots are another ground interment option. There are single, double, triple and quad grave lots which can accommodate upright monuments.

• A Single Monument Lot is a grave lot permitting an upright monument, which may contain one interment. If more than one interment is permitted, the first interment must be placed extra deep.
• A Double Monument lot is a two-grave lot permitting an upright monument, which may contain a maximum of four interments.
• A Triple Monument lot is a three grave lot permitting an upright monument, which may contain a maximum of six interments.
• A Quad Monument lot is a four grave lot permitting an upright monument, which may contain a maximum of eight interments.

Burial Vaults
A burial vault is a protective outer container for the casket. Many families select a burial vault for the peace of mind that it provides. The burial vault also protects the casket from settling and keeps the ground intact, thus preserving the beauty of the cemetery. A selection of burial vaults is available for purchase in the cemetery offices.

Memorializing Loved Ones
Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services offer a large variety of memorialization options for our faith community. Each memorial is uniquely designed based on your preferences and serves as a reflection and tribute to the individual’s life.

Whether you choose a solid bronze flat marker or a granite monument, each memorial is uniquely designed. Every family can choose from a wide variety of religious signs and symbols that will distinctly reflect a person’s life.  All of our monuments are made using the finest granite and the highest level of old-world craftsmanship blended with new world technology. Durable porcelain photos are also available to further personalize the memorial.

Our monuments are completed with care and quick delivery times. You are able to have a personalized memorial at the grave in the shortest period of time possible, making it easier for loved ones to locate a grave and pay their respects.

Our Family Counsellors are ready to assist each family to ensure that every memorial is personal, adorned with symbols of our faith and serves as a lasting identification of a loved one’s place of rest in perpetuity. All of our monuments come with a lifetime warranty.

The Catholic Funeral

 The Order of Christian Funerals

The Order of Christian Funerals, published in 1990 by the Canadian Bishops, guides the Catholic community with specific rites and prayers to express consolation to those who grieve, to give thanks to God for the blessings received by and through the deceased and to ask God for mercy on all sinners. It is designed to help confront death in light of the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. “In the face of death, the Church confidently proclaims that God has created each person for eternal life and that Jesus, by his death and resurrection, has broken the chains of sin and death that bound humanity.”

Funerals for Catholics have Three Distinct Parts:

The Vigil 
“At the death of a Christian, whose life was begun in the waters of Baptism and strengthened at the Eucharistic table, the Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased because of its confident belief that death is not the end nor does it break the bonds forged in life.”

The time immediately following death is often one of bewilderment and may involve shock or heartrending grief for the family and close friends. The ministry of the Church at this time is one gently accompanying the mourners in their initial adjustment to the fact of death and to the sorrow this entails. “The members of the Christian community offer support to the mourners, especially by praying that the one they have lost may have eternal life.”

The Vigil, which is generally held in a funeral home but may be celebrated in the home or other suitable place, includes a solemn reading of the Word of God and prayers for the deceased and those who mourn. This is the suitable occasion for a eulogy for sharing remembrances of the deceased.

Why a Vigil? In time of loss the family and community turn to God’s Word as the source of faith and hope, as light and life in the face of darkness and death. The prayers call on God to bring the deceased into the communion of saints. The whole ceremony is reminiscent of the Easter Vigil when, in the darkened church, we await the glorious resurrection of the Lord.

Who participates in the Vigil? “Whenever possible the family of the deceased should take part in the selection of texts and music and designation of the liturgical ministers”.  Members of the local parish community are also encouraged to participate as a sign of concern and support for the mourners. A priest, a deacon or, in their absence, a lay person leads the community in prayer.

The Funeral Mass
“Christians celebrate the funeral rites to offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of life which has now been returned to God, the author of life and the hope of the just. The Mass, the memorial of Christ’s death and resurrection, is the principal celebration of the Christian funeral.”

When planning a Funeral Mass, there are five important points to consider.
There is to be a Funeral Mass celebrated for every deceased Catholic. The only exceptions are: if a priest is unavailable, or if the Mass is to occur between Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday or on a Sunday or on a Holy Day of Obligation. If, due to extraordinary circumstances, families do not wish to have a Mass, they should consult with the parish priest before making arrangements with a funeral director. If there is serious reason to have no Mass, The Order of Christian Funerals states that the service without a Mass is “ordinarily” to be celebrated in the parish church.

There is an emphasis on the baptism of the deceased since it is through baptism in Jesus that each person receives the promise of eternal life. The white pall draped over the casket, the holy water and the Easter candle are symbols of Christ’s life which is bestowed through the waters of baptism.

Requests for secular music cannot be accommodated during the Mass since the very nature of the Mass requires that the lyrics of the songs “express the mystery of the Lord’s suffering, death and triumph over death.”

The readings for Mass are to be taken from the Bible. The family may choose the readings but they may not be from any source other than Sacred Scripture.

The Order of Christian Funerals prohibits a eulogy in the context of Mass. “A brief homily based on the readings is always given after the gospel reading at the funeral liturgy… but there is never to be a eulogy”. While a eulogy is intended to recall and even praise the deceased, a homily is directed to helping all who are gathered to understand the mystery of God’s love and how the mystery of Jesus’ victorious death and resurrection were present in the life of the deceased and are present in our lives as well.

The Rite of Committal
“The rite of committal, the conclusion of the funeral rites, is celebrated at the grave, tomb, or crematorium and may be used for burial at sea.” Prayers are offered to commit the body of the deceased to its final resting place.

In committing the body to it’s resting place, the community expresses the hope that, with all those who have gone before, marked with the sign of faith, the deceased awaits the glory of the resurrection. The rite of committal is an expression of the communion that exists between the Church on earth and the Church in heaven: the deceased passes with the farewell prayers of the community of believers into the welcoming company of those who need faith no longer but see God face to face. For two thousand years Catholic Cemeteries have been our heritage and natural conclusion to our lives. It serves as a symbol of the extended community of believers unbroken by death.

To be buried together as a family and a community who have lived and shared their faith in the Church which Jesus Christ established is the very reason why we, as Catholics, choose to be buried in a Catholic Cemetery.