Visitors express personal messages of love and remembrance on a life-sized greeting card available at Archdiocesan Catholic (photo courtesy of Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark)

Each year, Catholic Cemeteries, a Ministry of the Archdiocese of Newark, marks November, a month of Remembrance, with events to commemorate All Saints Day (November 1), All Souls Day (November 2), and Cemetery Sunday (November 6). Observances include Masses, an inspirational concert, a symposium on coping with grief, and a unique opportunity for the bereaved to personally express themselves in tribute to departed loved ones.

Masses of Remembrance at Catholic Cemeteries
An integral aspect of the ministry of Catholic Cemeteries is to provide for the spiritual needs of its families. As part of this commitment, Remembrance Masses are celebrated on Memorial Day and throughout the year, typically the first Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday each month at its cemeteries. During November’s Masses of Remembrance, special prayers and intentions will be shared to mark the observance of All Saints and All Souls Days. Mass will be celebrated at Saint Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia (Nov. 3), Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover (Nov. 7), Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington (Nov. 8), Maryrest Cemetery in Mahwah (Nov. 8), and Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City (Nov. 9). For a complete schedule of Masses, visit www.rcancem.org<http://www.rcancem.org> or stop by the cemetery’s main office. All are welcome to participate.

Cemetery Sunday
November 5th is Cemetery Sunday, a special day to remind us of the importance of Catholic cemeteries and the value of continued prayer for departed family members, friends, and those who may have no one to pray for them. Catholic Cemeteries are sacred places, blessed and set aside as final resting places for the earthly remains of our faithful departed. They are visible reminders of our Catholic faith in the Resurrection, and a sign of hope in God and His promise of everlasting life. All in our Catholic community are encouraged to join in a day of faith, prayer and remembrance by visiting one of our most sacred places… a Catholic cemetery.

Bereavement Presentation and Concert in Honor of the Faithful Departed
Each year, Catholic Cemeteries sponsors A Concert in Honor of the Faithful Departed on Cemetery Sunday (November 5) at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. This year, the inspirational concert will feature the musical works of Dvorák, Mozart, Duruflé, Elgar, Barber, and Flummerfelt. The talented Cathedral Choir, organist Ian Tomesch, and conductor John J. Miller, Director of Music Ministries for the Archdiocese of Newark, will present the concert beginning at 4:00 P.M.
This performance is intended to be a source of comfort and hope for those mourning the loss of a loved one. The Church gathers not only to pray for the repose of their souls, but to console one another by strengthening our hope and faith in the resurrection. Upon arrival, guests may enroll names of departed loved ones into a special Book of Remembrance. A free-will offering will be received, and advance tickets are not necessary.

Prior to the concert is a short symposium to the bereaved by the Office of Family Life of the Archdiocese of Newark. This year’s pre-concert lecture, “Using Music to Cope with Grief,” starts at 3:20 PM in the Cathedral Chapel of Our Lady of Grace of the Cathedral Basilica.

The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart is located at 89 Ridge Street, Newark. For more information visit www.CathedralBasilica.org or call 973-484-2400.

Hallmark of Love and Remembrance
Remembering loved ones with a greeting card is a common expression of affection. At Catholic Cemeteries, families and visitors are offered the opportunity to express themselves to departed loved ones on life-sized greeting cards available during important holidays and celebrations. These include Easter, Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, and All Saints and All Souls Days, and Cemetery Sunday (see photos). Heartfelt prayers and personal expressions of love and remembrance for departed loved ones fill the banners placed near the cemeteries’ entrances two weeks prior to each holiday.

To learn more about Catholic Cemeteries, a Ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, or to sign up for informative e-mails and newsletters, visit www.CatholicJourney.org

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Staff members at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington pause in front of the cemetery’s 9-11 Memorial Monument for a moment of silence and prayers to commemorate the 16th anniversary of the attacks on The World Trade Center and Pentagon and the crash of Flight 93. Workers at each of eight archdiocesan properties of Catholic Cemeteries, a Ministry of the Archdiocese of Newark, gather to commemorate the 9-11 anniversary each year since the tragedy. (Photo courtesy of Catholic Cemeteries)

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“The worries of last-minute burial planning should not become part of a familyâ€s grieving process, especially when experiencing a great deal of emotional pain and suffering from loss,” says Andrew P. Schafer, executive director of the Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark. That is why Catholic Cemeteries, a ministry of the Archdiocese of Newark, regularly reaches out to families to inform them about the benefits of pre-planning, he explains.  “Time and again, grieving families attest to the appreciable difference of pre-set arrangements in easing their time of loss.”

To assist families in learning more about cemetery pre-planning and memorialization, Catholic Cemeteries is hosting open house events at cemeteries throughout New Jersey. Memorial Planning Advisors will be available to answer questions and share information about services, the many burial options, and financial planning. No appointment is necessary and no obligation is expected. The events are open to the Catholic community. Locations and dates include:

• Holy Cross Cemetery & Mausoleum, 340 Ridge Road, North Arlington, NJ, April 2 & 3, 9:00am to 4:30pm
• St. Gertrude Cemetery & Mausoleum, 53 Inman Avenue, Colonia, NJ, April 16 & 17, 9:00am to 4:30pm
• Holy Name Cemetery & Mausoleum, 823 West Side Avenue, Jersey City, NJ, April 30 & May 1, 9:00am to 4:30pm

New Video Highlights Meaningful Church Rituals at Time of Loss

Catholic Cemeteries recently introduced a short video highlighting the significance of the Churchâ€s funeral rituals to support Catholics during their time of loss. The six-minute video, “Many Travelers, One Journey,” weaves together the touching narrated stories of multiple individuals describing how family, friends and Church community come together to pray and comfort each other, celebrate the faith and life of their loved one, and share in the three principal parts of the Catholic funeral liturgy – the Vigil, Funeral Mass and Committal Service – known as the Order of Christian Funerals.

The informative video was released to coincide with this Jubilee Year of Mercy, in which the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy are reaffirmed and encouraged, including burial of and prayers for the deceased.  It accompanies a planning booklet, Continuing the Journey, Preparing a Catholic Funeral, which offers information on coping with the death of a loved one, ministry resources at a time of loss, Scripture Readings for Funerals, practical preparations, information on pre-planning, and more.  The video and booklet are available online at www.rcancem.org/ocf. 

 About Catholic Cemeteries

Catholic Cemeteries, a ministry of the Archdiocese of Newark, tends to the needs of individuals and families before, at the time of, and after death. This includes caring assistance with cemetery pre-planning, compassionate support at the time of death, facilitating a loved oneâ€s interment in a holy place, support throughout bereavement, and perpetual cemetery care. The Archdiocese of Newark operates 10 Catholic cemeteries vital to the Catholic community for more than 160 years.  Over one million loved ones are interred in our cemeteries, and daily care is provided for each holy space and the entirety of each cemetery, perpetually.  Catholic Cemeteries recognizes the deep religious significance of the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy involved in the burial of and prayers for a loved one and the sanctity of the Order of Christian Funerals. To learn more, visit www.rcancem.org or connect on Facebook and Twitter.
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Catholic Cemeteries, NJ, May 27, 2013 – As the country prepares to celebrate Memorial Day, Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark will join thousands of Catholic Cemeteries across the United States in a national celebration, “Serving God and Country: A Memorial Day Salute to Our Heroes.” This national program, developed by the Catholic Cemetery Conference, will honor those men and women who died while serving in the armed forces, as well as recognize both our active military and military veterans who have served our country.

“Serving God and Country: A Memorial Day Salute to Our Heroes,” we invite our active military and veterans to participate in a Memorial Day Mass, and/or other cemetery-related activities throughout the weekend at Catholic Cemeteries. Veterans and active military are invited to serve as flag or candle bearers during the opening and closing processions at Mass, and will also be invited to serve as Lectors, participate in the Presentation of Gifts, and recite uniform intercessions followed by a moment of silence.

“Catholic cemeteries, both large and small, are invited to participate in the program, both to honor those members of the military who died in combat, and to recognize our veterans and current servicemen and women,” said Carol Giambalvo, President, and Catholic Cemetery Conference.

Many Catholic cemeteries are also planning additional activities, including Wreath Laying Ceremonies, Tribute Boards and Military Choirs, with military members invited to participate. The Catholic War Veterans of America and the Knights of Columbus are also expected to participate in the national celebration.

“We are excited to be participating in this heartfelt program and are glad to have the opportunity to give thanks to the military members and veterans within our community for their commitment and service,” said Most Reverend John J. Myers, the Archbishop of Newark, “We are inspired by these individuals and hope our participation in the ‘Serving God and Country: A Memorial Day Salute to Our Heroes†program can be just one way to say thanks for all they have done for us”.
The Most Rev. Timothy P. Broglio, JCD, Archbishop for the Archdiocese of the Military Services, USA, will serve as National Spokesperson for the “Serving God and Country: A Memorial Day Salute to Our Heroes,” program and will celebrate a Memorial Day Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. on May 19^th, 2013.

“Serving God and Country: A Memorial Day Salute to Our Heroes,” encourages community involvement and participation and it is the hope of the program that this initiative will band together thousands of Catholic Cemeteries throughout the nation with past and current military members in this special celebration of remembrance.

For more information on the “Serving God and Country: A Memorial Day Salute to Our Heroes” program, or to learn more about the participating Catholic cemeteries, please visit “Serving God and Country: A Memorial day Salute to Our Heroes”.

Archdiocesan Cemeteries

LOCATIONS AND CELEBRANTS

Parish Cemeteries

The Son Rise Morning Show, a National radio program on the Global Catholic Radio Network, which provides information, prayer and current news items from a Catholic Perspective, featured an 8-minute interview with The Most Rev. Timothy P. Broglio, JCD, Archbishop for the Archdiocese of the Military Services, USA on April 30^th.

The interview provided detail about the Archdiocese of Military Services in addition to the ways in which Memorial Day is being celebrated around the country.

http://youtu.be/g6uSdkcvcdg

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