Cemeteries

Information for Minnesota Catholics

“There is no permanent city for us here on earth; we are looking for the city which is to come.” Hebrews 13:14.

The Rite of Christian Burial is a tradition that celebrates the life of the deceased as well as the life to come. Burying the dead is a Corporal Act of Mercy that we do to show respect for God's creation. You may have questions about procedures and guidelines the Church has in regards to cemeteries. This website is designed to help answer those questions. Below you will find links to an array of websites that deal with cemeteries. Many of the Dioceses of Minnesota include helpful information on their websites.

Also included is a brochure by Fr. James Notebaart which is available for free download on this site. Fr. Notebaart is director of Indian Ministry for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and is a noted speaker and author on theological and historical perspectives related to death and burial. He is a frequent contributor to the publication Catholic Cemetery and was a presenter at the Third Annual Smaller Cemetery Seminar held in Minneapolis earlier this year.

Helpful Links

This will take you to the webpage of the Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and
                                       Minneapolis. There is information about pre-planning seminars, products, memorial services, 
                                       genealogy, and frequently asked questions.

The Diocese of New Ulm offers a brochure about how to plan a funeral. This link is the ordering form for the brochure "Preparing for a Catholic Funeral."

The Diocese of Winona has an in-depth site in regards to rules and regulations for cemetery lot holders, grave owners, and general cemetery regulations.

The Catholic Cemetery Conference has a comprehensive website that will be able to answer questions about the history of Catholic cemeteries and burial practices, current practices, the
                                         importance of pre-planning, and frequently asked questions.

Temple of the Holy Spirit
A Resource for Minnesota Catholics from the Minnesota Catholic Conference

You will need Adobe Acrobat to download this file. Click here for a free download.