Holy Cross Cemetery 1259 South Park St., Halifax
Holy Cross Cemetery was established in 1843 and is located at the corner of South and South Park Streets and is the burial grounds for many Irish Catholic immigrants. Holy Cross is still a working cemetery with burials taking place every year. Holy Cross Cemetery and Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel – the Church built in a day – in August of 1843 is located is this beautiful pastoral setting. Since opening in 1843 over 25,000 souls have been buried at Holy Cross, many are of Irish descent and others have made significant contributions to life in Halifax as religious leaders, public figures and business men and merchants.
The grave sites of a number of archbishops, and senior clergy are located in “Bishops Row” close to Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel. Archbishop William Walsh, who organized the building of the Chapel, was laid to rest near the Chapel.
Sir John Sparrow David Thompson, who served as the fourth Prime Minister of Canada from 1892 to 1894 is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery. Sir John Thompson was the first Roman Catholic to hold the office of Prime Minister, he was a founder of Dalhousie Law School and was the federal minister who introduced Canada’s Criminal Code.
Holy Cross is also the final resting place for many decorated Halifax war heroes who have fought bravely in military campaigns and world wars since the 1850’s.
Holy Cross provides a cremation garden for cremation burial.
To view map click here (pdf)
Our annual outdoor Masses for the Faithful Departed in our Catholic cemeteries are coming up!
- Mount Olivet Cemetery, Mumford Rd, Halifax on Saturday, August 9 at 10:00am
In the event of rain, the Mass will be celebrated at Saint Thomas Aquinas Church, 1725 Oxford St
- Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Beaverbank Rd, Lr. Sackville, Wednesday, August 13 at 7:00pm
In the event of rain, the Mass will be celebrated at Saint John Vianney Church, 4 Beaverbank Rd
Our annual outdoor Masses for the Faithful Departed in our Catholic cemeteries are coming up!
- Mount Olivet Cemetery, Mumford Rd, Halifax on Saturday, August 9 at 10:00am
In the event of rain, the Mass will be celebrated at Saint Thomas Aquinas Church, 1725 Oxford St
- Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Beaverbank Rd, Lr. Sackville, Wednesday, August 13 at 7:00pm
In the event of rain, the Mass will be celebrated at Saint John Vianney Church, 4 Beaverbank Rd
On Monday, June 9, 2025, the demolition of the old caretaker's house at Holy Cross Cemetery began and has since been completed. Please be advised that the temporary closure of Holy Cross Cemetery has been lifted. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this project. Stay tuned for the upcoming and exciting expansion in Holy Cross Cemetery.
Each summer the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth host Masses at our Catholic cemeteries to offer people the opportunity to remember their loved ones buried there. This year’s Masses for the Faithful Departed are scheduled for:
One of the most important things that you can do is to plan your estate, funeral and final burial arrangements within the guidelines of your faith.
Our approach is pressure-free, because our staff do not work on commission and have no vested interest in your decisions.
You can pre-arrange, and pay for, your ground lot or cremation niche.
Our Cemeteries
The Catholic cemetery is a sacred place; it is holy ground where our faithful departed await the resurrection to eternal life. This is why the grounds of the cemetery are cared for and made as attractive as possible, maintained in this way as a sign of respect for the dead who rest in peace. The special respect we accord to the faithful departed and the places where they rest remind us of our hope of joyfully greeting them again, when we will be with them and the Lord forever.
Catholic Cemeteries of Halifax Policies & Procedures
- Cremation Interment Policy (pdf)
- Gate of Heaven Section 3 Policy (pdf)
- Memorial and Foundation Standards (pdf)
- Memorial Application Form (pdf)
- Decoration Guidelines (pdf)
- Archdiocesan Catholic Cemetery Complaint Form (fillable pdf)
Catholic Funerals
Gate of Heaven Cemetery
Located in Lower Sackville opening in 1938, the cemetery is 31 rolling acres of land for traditional and cremation burials for our beloved departed.
Holy Cross Cemetery
Located in Halifax opening in 1843, houses the chapel built in one day and is the resting place of many historical and Irish families.
Mount Olivet Cemetery
Located in Halifax opening in 1896. Those buried in the cemetery include people from the Titanic, the Halifax Explosion, and both the World Wars.
Archdiocesan Funeral Guidelines
Archbishop Mancini in collaboration with the clergy, religious and lay faithful of our Church of 
Halifax-Yarmouth prepared the document on Catholic funerals in the Archdiocese of Halifax Yarmouth. The document is titled "Catholic Funerals: Theological and Pastoral Considerations".
The document touches on the frequent experience in our faith communities that funerals draw people with diverse connections to the Catholic faith or faith in general. Liturgical options, specifically the separation of the Funeral Rite (Order of Christian Funerals) and the celebration of the Eucharist, can facilitate a fuller involvement of mourners at Catholic funerals. As well new opportunities are presented to evangelize and catechized a Christian understanding of life, death and resurrection. For the faithful the opportunity to celebrate Eucharist at a memorial Mass within a short time of the funeral liturgy can be much more meaningful experience of communion.
This guidelines addresses issues like eulogies, use of Christian symbols at funerals, cremation, and the celebration of the funeral rite at funeral parlors as well as other points to assist parish personnel in the ministry to those who are grieving.
download: English (pdf) French (pdf)
