By Elena Macias
On March 12, the Diocesan Office of Catholic Cemeteries hosted a Dignity Memorial Roundtable at Dignity Memorial Chapel in Colton. The roundtable was open to Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Cemetery management, Dignity Memorial staff, funeral planning, counselors, funeral directors and priests. It was moderated by Alfred Martini, Director of the Office of Catholic Cemeteries, and Jessica Sandoval, General Manager at Dignity Memorial.
The roundtable came about as an effort to enhance the Catholic funeral services and it specifically covered the Catholic Funeral Rites, symbols and traditions of the Catholic Funeral Mass and the ethnic traditions for Hispanic, Vietnamese, and Filipino funeral services. The Very Rev. Rafael Partida, E.V., Director of the Office of Divine Worship, gave a presentation on the importance of Catholic Funeral Rites.
“In death, we share in the victory of Christ over sin and death,” Fr. Partida said. “By burying the body and treating them with love, reverence and gratitude, we can help restore people’s faith in the resurrection. The dignity of the human body, the dignity of the person and God’s fatherly love because that is in the body of each and everyone of us.”
The roundtable offered an opportunity for open dialogue between funeral staff and priests. Funeral staff asked the diocesan priests several clarifying questions in regards to properly conducting a Catholic funeral. Several attending diocesan priests shared their knowledge of as well as the reasons for each phase in a Catholic funeral. In addition, Father John Gunningham demonstrated the preparation and proper dressing of a priest for burial.
Lastly, Martini discussed a new survey initiative the Office of Catholic of Cemeteries will be implementing. Martini shared that the office will provide survey forms to families to ask them what they need, as well as include a survey regarding the priests and funeral staff in attempts to improve their services to families.
Elena Macias is the Managing Editor of the Inland Catholic BYTE and El Compás Católico.