Our Catholic Tradition
The Catholic faith is rooted in the belief that God made us to enjoy eternal life with Him and that death is not the end of our existence. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter is the foretaste and promise of this immortal life.
We believe the body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. It is the repository of the soul that was washed in Baptism, anointed with the oil of salvation and nourished at the Eucharistic table. The human body is so inextricably associated with the human person that it is hard to think of a human person apart from his or her body. Catholic tradition insists that it be treated with respect, even in death.
We are a people who visit our cemeteries to be reminded of our history, our Catholic beliefs and practices, and our community in the various parishes of the Archdiocese of New York. We, as a community, profess our beliefs and value system… even in the silence of the grave.
In the Catholic cemeteries of the Archdiocese of New York our deceased relatives and friends are laid to rest among members of the same faith community who preceded them into eternal life, and professed the same sure conviction that one day the body will be reunited with the soul in glory to be with the Risen Lord. Then the kingdom of God will be fully realized.
Painful as it might be, family and friends are encouraged to return to the burial places to find there, in the presence of those mortal remains, people joined with the communion of saints. The church invites you to unite in prayer for their eternal rest. In the stillness of the cemetery, may you connect with that great prayer of the early Church, “Marana tha!” “Lord Jesus, come!”
Benefits of a Catholic Cemetery
Catholic cemeteries are sacred grounds consecrated by the church to provide a dignified final resting place that affirms the faith of the departed. Architecture, statuary and monuments reflect our core belief in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal life with Him.
Mass is offered in community chapels each week for the repose of the souls of those whose mortal remains are entrusted to our care. Our efforts are an expression of the Catholic reverence for all human life and the sacredness of each body, even after death.
Our beautiful cemeteries welcome visitors to reflect and pray throughout the year. An endowed fund ensures future care and maintenance.