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Catholic Burial Traditions

For centuries, Catholic burial options went unchanged: in-ground burial in a churchyard or diocesan cemetery with rows of upright monuments marking the graves. The only exceptions were a few family mausoleums where the bodies of the prominent and wealthy were interred.

The past 50 years have seen a great variety of changes. Memorial parks now place all grave markers at ground level with religious artworks adorning each cemetery section. Large new mausoleums offer an affordable alternative to in-ground burial. Finally, while the Church still prefers traditional burials, Catholics may choose cremation as an alternative.

What burial options are available?

• Traditional in-ground burial
• Entombment in a mausoleum crypt
• Interment of cremated remains in a grave
• Inurnment in above ground niche