In 1997, the Vatican granted permission for Funeral Masses to be celebrated with the cremated remains of an individual at the discretion of each diocesan bishop.

However, the Catholic Church “clearly prefers and urges that the body of the deceased be present for the funeral rites, since the presence of the human body better expresses the values which the Church affirms in those rites” ( Order of Christian Burial, Appendix II).

In addition to fully expressing the Church’s belief in the resurrection of the body, the presence of the body at the funeral allows friends and family of the deceased to enter into the grieving process in a way that is substantively different than with the cremated remains.

Therefore, those opting to have cremation are strongly encouraged to have the body of the deceased present at the funeral, with cremation and burial to follow in the next couple of days. A rrangements must be made for the burial of the cremated remains before the funeral service at St. John Chrysostom.

In every circumstance, the cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they come. This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the manner in which they are carried, the care and attention to appropriate placement and transport, and the final disposition.