What to do when a Catholic dies?

  1. Inform promptly the parish priest of the domicile of the deceased.
  2. Obtain from him the Certificate of “Permission Of Burial In The Catholic Cemeteries” by presenting the Certificate of Registration of Death (Form 10), or the Certificate of Order Authorizing Burial/Cremation of Body (Form 11), or Certified True Copy of Death Certificate issued by the Hong Kong Births and Deaths Registry, together with the Certificate of Baptism if necessary.
    The Certificate of Baptism is required, if the deceased was baptized in a church different from the church of his domicile at the time of death.
  3. Arrange with the priest the alternative dates and times of burial.
  4. Make arrangements with a reputable funeral parlour or coffin shop for burial services.
  5. Arrange directly with the Supervisor of the Catholic Cemetery in which the family wishes to have the deceased buried for the location of grave, date and time of burial in the Catholic Cemetery ad the Certificate of Registration of Death (Form 10) or the Certificate of Order Authorizing Burial/Cremation of Body (Form 11).
  6. Contact the priest to confirm the date and time for the funeral rites.

Cremation

According to the present discipline of the Church, Catholics may choose to have their bodies cremated. It is not necessary to seek any special permission from Church Authority for cremation.
The rites ordinarily performed at the cemetery chapel or at the graveside may be conducted in the funeral parlour or in the chapel of the crematorium. If there is no other suitable place for the rites, they may be celebrated in the crematory hall itself, provided that the liturgical service is carried out with respect and dignity.
To have the funeral rites performed it is, of course, necessary to make arrangements with a priest.
If the ashes of the deceased are to be placed in an ossuary niche in Catholic Cemetery, the relatives should first obtain a “Cremated Ashes Certificate” and a “Permission for burial in the Catholic Cemetery”, together with the Ashes, Memorial Data, Photograph, Charge Fee and contact the Cemetery Office for the arrangement.

Please Note:

  1. The Certificate of “Permission for burial in the Catholic Cemeteries” is issued free of charge.
  2. The “permission for Exhumation” is issued free of charge. It is valid only when it is signed by the Superintendent of the Catholic Cemeteries.
  3. Deal directly with the Sexton of the Cemetery in which the family wishes to bury the deceased, and never do it through a third party. The Catholic Cemeteries do not have agents for handling these arrangements. The Sexton and their assistants are all paid employees of the Catholic Church and no commissions or gratuities are to be offered for services rendered. The standard charges to be paid are posted in the offices of the Sextons. When in doubt, please contact the Superintendent of the Catholic Cemeteries.
  4. The burial sites and niches are all prenumbered, and are assigned by the Sexton according to the serial order.
  5. The ashes after cremation can be placed only in appointed niches in the Catholic Cemeteries.
  6. At the request of the respective Parish Priests, free services or services with reduced charges are provided for destitutes and the poor who are certified as such by the same Parish Priest.
  7. If you are approached by persons promising you or offering you, in return for pecuniary rewards, favours regarding burial sites other than what the by-laws and regulations posted in the Sextons’s Office prescribe, please report immediately to the Superintendent of the Catholic Cemeteries, the Police or the I.C.A.C.
  8. Please report all complaints to:
    The Superintendent of Catholic Cemeteries
    Cheung Sha Wan Cemeteries Offices, Kowloon.
    Tel: 2745-4220
    Fax: (852) 2307-2585
    E-mail: ccemstraphael@catholic.org.hk