Funerals and Burials

Funerals and Burials in the Catholic Church

There have been important new guidelines regarding Catholic burials issued locally and by the Vatican.  These guidelines are intended for the faithful in general and have been developed specifically to assist and advise the bereaved or others involved in planning funerals.  

They provide basic information on the Church's perspectives on death, praying for the deceased, mourning, funerals and cremation.  They also summarize the Church's directives on the presence of the cremated remains within the funeral and on the proper respect to be shown for the disposition of the cremated remains.

We recommend that the faithful contact their pastor or a parish before planning a funeral so that they may assist you in funeral preparations.

Guidelines for Funerals and Burials in the Catholic Church (February 2020)
Bishops of BC-Yukon

Click here to download the document

Cremation and Funeral Liturgies pamphlet (2019)
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB)


Click here to download the pamphlet

Instruction Ad resurgendum cum Christo regarding the burial of the deceased and the conserva-tion of the ashes in the case of cremation (2016)
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (Vatican)

Click here to link to the Vatican document