Have you or someone you know lost a child before birth? Countless women and families have experienced the heartbreak of miscarriage. Whether a loss occurs at six weeks, 12 weeks, 20 weeks, or later, the grief and heartache can be deep and life-changing. From the...

Golden fronds sway in the still-warm breeze of late summer. Purple sage and yellow black-eyed Susans add color to the gently fading landscape. Except for the occasional plane taking off overhead, this is a place where nature invites us into quiet and reflection. This...

The joy of Easter morning begins at the tomb. "When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint him." (Mark 16:1) We know what happened next. The stone had been rolled away, and the tomb...

The Catholic Cemeteries proudly congratulates Archbishop Hebda on ten years of faithful service to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. What many people may not realize is that throughout those ten years, he has also faithfully ministered to countless...

Cherry and apple tree blossoms are painting the landscape with shades of rose, white, and purple, while trees burst forth with fresh green leaves. Springtime in Minnesota, with all its beauty and promise of new life, seems a fitting season to honor the Blessed Virgin...

You are invited to visit our newly developed Section 9, where you will be welcomed by a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Shamrocks, leprechauns, and everything green—even the beer—often come to mind when people think of St. Patrick’s Day. Images of Chicago dyeing the Chicago River green, gatherings in Irish pubs, and meals of corned beef and cabbage (which I discovered during a visit to...

Celebrating Life, Remembering Death: Mardi Gras as a Gateway to Lent

Even on the coldest January days in Minnesota, care, commitment, and respect make it possible to lay loved ones to rest.

All of us at The Catholic Cemeteries send you abundant blessings this Advent and a joyful, heartfelt Christmas season.

All Souls – Honoring Those Who Went Before Us

As the season of Autumn changes the vibrant reds and yellows of the wild flowers to subtle shades of orange and rust, and the lush, green leaves of the trees and plants transform into colors sometimes vibrant and sometimes softer, of hues of orange and gold, our Executive Director took the hand of Our Lord, Jesus and walked to her next and final destination into eternal life.

As the hot days of August dwindle and autumn approaches, take note of the changes all around us.

As we enter into the Easter season, we celebrate the triumph of Jesus over death and the joy of eternal life.

We know in our own hearts that while our loved one may have died, love never dies. Love is transcendent and lives on in our hearts.

When you work in a particular field, you get to know its language. Let’s take a look at some of our cemetery language:

Take time this season to be still for a moment and abide with God, knowing that God is holding you and keeping you in tender care.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “Organ donation after death is a noble and meritorious act and is to be encouraged as an expression of generous solidarity.” (CCC, 2296)

The loss of a child of any age, truly pierces the soul of the mother and father. Sadly, the loss of pre-term babies has historically not been recognized or honored.

If you’re planning the funeral and burial of a loved one your most important job on the day of the service and burial is to grieve

Integrating Cemetery Resources in End-of-Life Planning

The next time you visit a cemetery, take your time to explore the mysteries behind the words, symbols, and images that narrate the stories of people and their place in time.

On June 19th, we had the pleasure of hosting the Historic St. Mary’s Cemetery Walking Tour, an event that brought to life the fascinating history of our community’s past residents.

Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights is where The Saints of the Gate of Heaven Preserve saw its first green burial in 2019. Walking along the winding path through this beautiful section, boulders mark each area, bearing the names of saints.

The phrase was first found on tombstones sometime before the fifth century, typically in Latin, requiescat in pace.

As spring ushers in warmer weather and blossoming flowers, it also brings forth a solemn occasion deeply woven into the fabric of American culture: Memorial Day.

We care deeply for our cemeteries and are committed to caring for them long after we’re all gone. That’s why our Permanent Care Fund exists.

A smile, a wave, or even a brief hello can bring solace to someone experiencing grief, even if we’re unaware of the depth of their pain. We can both seek comfort in these soft connections and become the soft connection for others in need.

None of us will ever be an expert on grief, but we can be caring, compassionate individuals who want to help someone in pain.

They say death and taxes are the only two certainties in life. Death, we can’t predict, but we do know it’s going to come. Are your plans ready?

Cemeteries understand the profound grief of parents and loved ones, offering special and meaningful ways to honor and remember these precious souls who have departed.

Whether the loss occurred recently or years ago, occasions like this can stir up grief.

There’s an open space that was originally purchased many years ago by your deceased relative; who owns the space now and who can be buried there?

Think of life’s milestones; we celebrate and honor people on their birthdays, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, even retirement. Why stop when the person dies? Shouldn’t their death be equally significant in marking their journey to eternal life?

Just as in the depths of winter, light gives us hope for the sunny days of summer, so it is with transition. We will go through a neutral zone of darkness, but it won’t last forever. The light will come again.

Finding where someone is buried can be a poignant and meaningful journey, offering closure and a deeper connection to your family’s history.

Donating in memory of someone is a special way to contribute to a cause, organization, or a community while recognizing and honoring a loved one. This year, The Catholic Cemeteries is hosting a Christmas Fundraiser for Open Door Pantry. With each memorial donation, 1 ornament will be added to the Christmas trees at both Resurrection & Gethsemane Cemeteries.

Honoring our loved ones at Christmas

Laughter, family, decorations, and special meals fill the holidays. However, when a significant person in your life has died, the holidays can be exhausting, with painful reminders of all the many things that have been lost. How do you navigate the holiday season when you are in grief?

As the autumn leaves fall and the air grows crisp, the Catholic Church prepares to observe three significant days: Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day.

A commemorative monument dedicated to a person or group of people buried elsewhere.

Losing a loved one is difficult and life changing for everyone. However, when the grief is hidden, silent in the hearts of those who have had a miscarriage or stillbirth, the pain can be especially difficult. Having a public, community event with music, prayer, and ritual honoring those loved ones who died before birth can help families have a safe place to grieve, to name their loss, and honor their child.

Having a permanent place to visit a loved one who has died and to see the person’s name and their permanent resting place has been important to the grieving and healing process since the beginning of time.

Our message to all who come to us is one of hope.

Labyrinth Grief Retreat – Walking a path of prayer and meditation for healing

Humans are ritualistic, whether it is the pattern one follows when rising and preparing for the day, singing “Happy Birthday” to mark their appearance in the world, or how one performs certain chores. Rituals surrounding death provide a concrete way for the living to begin the painful process of continuing life in the midst of grief, supported by the Church and her members.

What does it mean when a cemetery is “closed”?

Let’s think twice about how we value our loved ones in death as we await the resurrection