Special informational events being held at cemeteries this weekend

The loss of a loved one is a significant life event that is often a time of sorrow, uncertainty, and worry.

As part of their 2021: Year of St. Joseph, Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark is scheduling several open house events throughout Essex, Union, Bergen, Hudson, and Middlesex counties to help Catholics gain knowledge and confidence before that difficult time arises. 

“A time of loss is a time of confusion, and final arrangements do not have to add to the uncertainty,” said Andrew P. Schafer, executive director of the Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark. “The worries of last-minute burial arrangements should not become part of a family’s grieving process, especially when experiencing profound sorrow. It’s why we reach out regularly to families to inform them about the valuable benefits of pre-planning.”

Schafer explains that often, grieving families attest to the appreciable difference of pre-set arrangements in easing their time of loss.

“It allows family members to honor and celebrate the life of their departed loved one knowing their wishes are being carried out as pre-arranged,” he said. “Deciding the details of cemetery arrangements in advance for yourself or a loved one may seem difficult but putting a plan in place is a responsible and loving gesture that offers invaluable peace of mind.”

Visit the next Open House weekend Saturday, March 27, and Sunday, March 28, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Maryrest Cemetery and Mausoleum in Mahwah, N.J. In addition to magnificent marble mausoleum crypts, glass cremation niches, and traditional family estate plots, Maryrest is home to New Jersey’s first natural / green burial section. The wildflowers and naturally occurring flora create a peaceful and serene setting for Catholic families who prefer an eco-friendly memorial or for those who may want an alternative to cremation. Price increase scheduled for March 29. 

Visit www.maryrestcemetery.org or stop by. Caring Memorial and professional planning advisers will be on hand to to share information about burial and cremation options, memorialization, and financial planning.

Christ the King Cemetery in Franklin Lakes is also holding an Open House this weekend on Saturday, March 27, and Sunday, March 28, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In addition to majestic, park-like settings, there are gazebo family estates, cremation Columbarium sections, and traditional plots with flat markers. It is perfect for those who prefer an outdoor, rural, and minimalist final resting place. A price increase scheduled for March 29. 

Visit www.ChristTheKingCemetery.org or stop by.

For anyone keeping the cremated burial remains of a loved one at home for at least three months or longer, an open house event could be the perfect opportunity to give a loved one the resting place they deserve. The Catholic Church’s Catechism teaches that every spiritual soul “is immortal: It does not perish when it separates from the body at death, and it will be reunited with the body at the final Resurrection” (CCC 366).

As a result, Catholics believe the cremated remains of loved ones should be given a sacred and dignified resting space. Having cremains interred in a chapel mausoleum or cemetery also offers families a designated place and time to grieve, heal, pray, and honor the memories of their loved one surrounded by magnificent liturgical art inspired by the Holy Family, the Apostles, heavenly saints, and angels.

By contrast, when the cremated remains are left in a home, they can fade into the background of everyday life and be left forgotten.

Meet with caring and professional Memorial Planning Advisors to learn how easy it is to have a loved one’s cremated remains interred in a mausoleum or cemetery.

Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark Open House schedule

March 27-28: Maryrest Cemetery & Mausoleum, 770 Darlington Ave., Mahwah, NJ 07430, (888) 489-9095. Price increase scheduled for March 29.

March 27-28: Christ The King Cemetery, 980 Huron Road, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417, (888) 802-2933. Price increase scheduled for March 29.

April 10-11: Holy Cross Cemetery & Mausoleum, 340 Ridge Rd., North Arlington, NJ 07031, (888) 467-8903. Price increase scheduled for April 12.

April 24-25: Holy Name Cemetery & Mausoleum, 823 West Side Ave., Jersey City, N.J. 07306, (888) 621-0337. Price increase scheduled for April 26.

May 15-16: St. Gertrude Cemetery & Mausoleum, 53 Inman Ave., Colonia, NJ 07067, (888) 444-2791. Price increase scheduled for May 17.