The Diocesan Board of Catholic Cemeteries (DBCC) will launch the Burial of Cremated ashes in Garden of Remembrance at the St. Raphael's Catholic Cemetery on 1 May 2024.
Rev. Dominic Chan expressed that the service aims at providing additional burial choices for the deceased and easing the pressure due to growing deficiency of niches in diocesan cemeteries. Unlike the ash scattering services in the Government's Garden of Remembrance, the cremated ashes of Catholic faithful will be contained in biodegradable urn, which allows it to be buried in entirety and dignified manner, thus fulfilling the teaching of Catholicism, and conforming to the Christian proclamation of the resurrection of the body and the respect due to it. Decent burial signifies hope for eternal life and reunion in heaven. This new arrangement not only promotes sustainability in the use of land, but also joins the Government's promotion for green burial.
As mentioned, ashes buried in the Garden of Remembrance must be contained in biodegradable urn provided by the Cemetery Office. After burial, no exhumation, relocation, co-burial or exportation is allowed. All burial lots for the ashes will be subject to re-use after 10 years.
Name plates are displayed on the gravestone at the burial lot in memory of the deceased. A dedicated memorial webpage uploading the names of the deceased will be introduced at a later stage for search by friends and relatives.
The pioneer scheme will be launched in St. Raphael's Catholic Cemetery. If the service is well received, DBCC will extend similar arrangement to other diocesan cemeteries in future.
Diocesan Board of Catholic Cemeteries
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