Catholic Cemeteries sets 2026 Fall Open House schedule
Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark will host a series of open house events this fall across Morris, Bergen, Middlesex, and Hudson counties, inviting families to learn about traditional burial, mausoleum, and cremation options.
“During the Year of Saint Francis, so many families are reflecting on what it means to prepare with faith and with love,” said Joseph Heckel, Executive Director of Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark. “Our Fall Open Houses give families the chance to do that planning in a low-pressure setting, with the added benefit of 0% interest for 48 months — so preparing ahead doesn’t have to be a financial burden, too.”
The fall season coincides with the Archdiocese’s observance of the 2026 Year of Saint Francis, marking the 800th anniversary of the saint’s passing — an occasion organization leaders say invites families to reflect on faith, humility, and trust in God’s promise of eternal life as they consider their own end-of-life wishes.
“Pre-planning provides peace of mind by ensuring that our wishes are known and relieving loved ones of difficult decisions during a time of loss,” Heckel added. “Choosing a Catholic cemetery affirms the dignity of the human body, the Communion of Saints, and our belief in eternal life.”
New This Fall at Gate of Heaven
Families visiting Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover this season will find two recent additions to the grounds. A 16-foot interpretation of Michelangelo’s Rondanini Pietà, carved in luminous Carrara marble, now stands at the cemetery’s entrance. Nearby, the new Gazebo Garden offers an elegant family estate section with in-ground family estates, where loved ones are honored and family legacies endure — joining the Chapel Mausoleum of the Resurrection, which features marble crypts, glass-and-marble cremation niches, a two-story mosaic of the Resurrection, and the Peacemaker stained-glass window, rescued from Newark’s former Sacred Heart Church in Vailsburg.
Options for Every Family
Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark offers traditional burial, mausoleum crypts, cremation niches, and other memorialization options rooted in Catholic teaching and tradition. Memorial Planning Advisors will be on hand at each Open House to walk families through burial and cremation options, memorialization, and payment plans, including the 0% interest for 48 months offer.
How to Participate
No appointment is necessary to attend, and there is no obligation, though families are encouraged to schedule a visit in advance so an advisor can be fully prepared to assist them. Families may also call, email cemetery@rcan.org, or visit www.rcancem.org, where Gabriel, the organization’s Virtual Angel Assistant, is available to answer questions and connect visitors with a Memorial Planning Advisor.
Complete Fall Open House Schedule
Sept. 12 & 13: Gate of Heaven Cemetery & Mausoleum, East Hanover
Sept. 26 & 27: Maryrest Cemetery & Mausoleum, Mahwah
Sept. 26 & 27: Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes
Oct. 10 & 11: Holy Cross Cemetery & Mausoleum, North Arlington
Oct. 24 & 25: Saint Gertrude Cemetery & Mausoleum, Colonia
Nov. 7 & 8: Holy Name Cemetery & Mausoleum, Jersey City
All Open Houses run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information, email cemetery@rcan.org or visit www.rcancem.org.
Featured image: A 16-foot interpretation of Michelangelo’s Rondanini Pietà, carved in Carrara marble, stands at the entrance of Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover, NJ. (Photos by Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark)
