At the conclusion of more and more of our funeral Masses, we are ending as Mass normally does with the Blessing and Dismissal because the interment of the deceased's cremains is not happening at one of our columbariums or at another place close by.  When that is the case, it is presumed that the interment will be taking place somewhere out-of-state or out of this area sometime in the near future.  With the reality of cremains rather than a body in a casket, in more and more instances, the options as to what to do with the cremains after the funerals are more than a few.  The Church has some clear directives for those who choose cremation for themselves and/or for their loved one(s).  Firstly, cremains should NOT be scattered or divded up and given to family members.  The integrity of the person, even if all that remains of them is cremains, must be maintained.  While the Church strongly encourages interment of a body or cremains in a timely fashion and in a blessed place (i.e., a cemetery, or columbarium), there are those who make the choice of keeping their loved ones cremains in their home for an extended and undetermined period of time.  Among things to consider, this practice can have the unintended consequence of closure being delayed.

Please know first of all, that we have an option for you to consider if the interment will be taking place at a designated place, at a later time.  We are open to letting a family use one of the empty niche's in our columbarium for their loved ones urn for a minimal fee until the permanent interment takes place.  Secondly, if you have the cremains of your loved one at home, please put them in a place of honor and respect in your home, AND please alert your family members, AND US, as to where they are and what your plans are for them so that if you were to die, it is clear what you intend for your loved one and for yourself.  Of course we keep a file of parishioners choices for their funerals of readings, music and other details of their funeral liturgy and interment thay want followed and respected.  So, directives about burial or interment of yours and/or your family members remains or cremains can be kept in our confidential file as well.  Please ponder all this and visit with me or one of the deacons about this very important matter.  We make plans for so much that happens in our lives, so it makes sense for us to do the same when it comes to the reality of our death, whenever it happens.  You might be interested to know that our diocese requires all priests - right after they are ordained, to decide what they want for their funeral.  This file is then kept at the diocese and can be updated by us at any time.  Since I did mine almost 30 years ago, this column is inspiring me to see what I decided then and consider if I wanrt any changes made to it.  Of course you can do the same with anything we have on file for you.