Please notethat the Catholic Church permits cremation (since 1963) as an acceptable, alternative means of burial. The Funeral Mass or Liturgy outside of Mass may be celebrated with the cremated remains present.
To prevent any kind of desecration of human remains, intended or unintended, Catholic Church Law requires a proper Christian burial of the body or cremated remains of the Faithful Departed. The cremated remains of a body must be treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they come. This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the manner in which they are carried, the care and attention to appropriate placement and transport, and the final disposition. The cremated remains should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium.
Catholic Church law forbids the practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea (burialat sea is allowed), from the air, or on the ground, or keeping cremated remains in the home of a relative or friend of the deceased. Treating cremated remains of the Faithful Departed in these ways are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires.
Whenever possible, appropriate means for recording with dignity the memory of the deceased should be adopted, such as a plaque or stone which records the name of the deceased. Order of Christian Funerals #417
A “Memorial Mass” may be celebrated after burial or interment (such as, in a situation where the burial takes place out of state and a memorial Mass is desired for our local faith community).
As well family and friends are encouraged to request additional Masses to be offered for the Faithful departed at St. Anne’s daily or Sunday Masses. You may request these Masses from the administrative staff at St. Anne’s office. Mass cards are available as well in the office. A donation of $10 or more is customary for these requests.