What To Do When A Catholic Dies
The applicant should first obtain all necessary documents and inform promptly the Parish Priest of the deceased for arrangement of bereavement service.
Such as the venues for performing the burial rites, coffin burial or cremation and assisting the application of government documents.
The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong does not own or operate any organization providing funeral and burial services. The Diocese has not specifically appointed, entrusted or recommended any particular funeral service or burial service providers. The Diocese has no business relationship or partnership of any nature with any funeral or burial services providers rendering such services.
Confirm with the Parish Clergy for the funeral and burial rites, or request for the assistance from the Bereavement Ministry Group.
Bereavement Ministry Groups are set up in parishes under the jurisdiction of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong to offer free assistance to parishioners seeking help in organizing funeral and burial services for their deceased's family members. Such assistance is rendered free, as a gesture of Christian solidarity and an act of love and charity. No fees or commission is charged. Clergy officiating at funeral and burial services are carrying out their duties in a spirit of love and charity. These services are also free of charge. Clergy in the Diocese do not enter into joint business ventures or have any dealing with funeral service or burial service providers.
In accordance with Diocesan regulations, family members or friends of a recently deceased should contact the Parish Priest of the deceased promptly and make arrangements with him directly for funeral and burial services. Such arrangements should not be left in the hands of third parties, especially those requesting pecuniary rewards for the arrangements. It is also highly inappropriate to delegate third parties to look for clergy to officiate at funeral and burial services.
A Burial Permit in the Catholic Cemetery ('Burial Permit') must first be obtained before the deceased is permitted to be buried in a Catholic Cemetery, it could only be issued by the Parish Priest, Assistant Parish Priest or Permanent Deacon of the Parish (Parish Clergy) of the deceased. The Burial Permit in the Catholic Cemetery is issued free of charge.
Please note that only Catholic faithful could be buried in a Catholic Cemetery. Catechumens who have received the Catholic Rite of Becoming Catechumens (Catechumens) may be buried in a Catholic Cemetery. However a person who has not received any catechetical instructions, even though he or she had been or was baptized at the moment of death or when unconscious, could not be buried in a Catholic Cemetery.
Coffin Burial
- Coffin Burial services in Catholic Cemeteries
Service Overview - Arrange directly with the Staff of the Catholic Cemetery in which the family wishes to have the deceased buried for the allocation of grave, date and time of burial by presenting all necessary documents at least 5 working days prior to burial. Burial lots are pre-numbered and will be allocated in sequential order.
- Please appoint a contractor from our 'Approved Gravestone Contractor List' for erection of gravestone.
Cremation
- Cremated Ashes depository services in Catholic Cemeteries (Niches or Garden of Hope)
Service Overview - After cremation, the applicant should collect the cremated ashes together with all necessary documents and prescribed fees and contact the Staff of Cemetery Office in which the family wishes to have the decreased buried for the arrangement.
- Niches are allocated in sequential order but not on first-come-first-served basis. Family Niches not allocated in the designated batch are available for application.
What To Do When A Catholic Dies