Calvary Cemetery

Peace of Mind, What Does the Catholic Church Teach?
All of the Catholic Church’s teachings on dying, death, funerals, and burials can be summed up by Her belief in the dignity of the human person, as expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
CCC2300 “The bodies of the dead must be treated with respect and charity, in faith and hope of the Resurrection. The burial of the dead is a corporal work of mercy (Tob 1:16-18); it honors the children of God, who are temples of the Holy Spirit”.
Before death, the relatives of the soon-to-be-deceased have an obligation to assist as much as possible in the transition from earthly life to eternal life.
CCC 2299 “The dying should be given attention and care to help them live their last moments in dignity and peace. They will be helped by the prayer of their relatives, who must see to it that the sick receive at the proper time the sacraments that prepare them to meet the living God”.
For all of us, as death is a fact of life, pre-planning a funeral is a great gift to those left behind. Meeting with your pastor or parish staff, you can discuss all of the details, such as readings for the Mass and committal information, which can be decided upon ahead of time, leaving freedom for the bereaved to grieve their loss and not be consumed by the planning.
To a faith-filled Catholic, the funeral is one more celebration of our journey toward God. Full of scripture and prayers commending the soul to the Lord, it is a liturgy of hope in the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting, as we proclaim each week in the Creed.
 
Pre Planning
Planning in advance for your burial is one of the most thoughtful expressions of love and concern you can show your family. Pre-planning your burial ensures a clear understanding of your wishes and that you will be buried in the place of your choice. It also provides tremendous peace of mind for your family when your death occurs.  The days following the death of a loved one can be tremendously difficult for those left to make the arrangements for a funeral, and pre-planning not only ensures you have the funeral you wish for, but you also help those loved ones making the arrangements to have an easy path forward.  Call for an appointment at our parish office or with our Cemetery manager to begin your funeral pre-planning arrangements.

 
Church Services
After the death of a loved one, there are many things to be done in preparation for the burial.  One area is the preparation of the Funeral Mass or Service.  We have suggested readings and a liturgy guide on the Parish website (stmarymtangel.org/funerals) to assist you.  It is also good to call the parish office as soon as possible to set up a planning meeting with the Pastor and Parish Staff.  They will assist you as you navigate this challenging time.  Funeral Masses are generally done Tuesday – Friday, at 11:00 AM, with interment usually following immediately after.  If you are interred at Calvary Cemetery, we are open to doing the Funeral Mass of Service at St. Mary Parish Church, regardless of whether you are a parishioner at St. Mary’s.

Dear Friend, 
The grief that we experience at the loss of a loved one is, of course, devastating.  We can only be consoled by the hope of the Resurrection and our promise of being a part of it as members of Christ’s body. 
St. Mary’s Parish is blessed to have Calvary Catholic Cemetery and Columbarium, one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the Pacific Northwest.  It is maintained by a staff of professionals dedicated to their important work.  A carefully administered endowment ensures that care will continue for future generations. 
All who are involved with the cemetery believe in the sacredness of the human body and are fully committed to the teachings and rich traditions of the Catholic Church regarding your loved one and the sacredness of the cemetery in which that body rests. 
Every person buried in our cemetery is treated with respect because even in death, they remain a part of the body of Christ. 
 
 

 

Fr. Ralph Recker OSB, Pastor,
St Mary Catholic Church