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Annual Masses for the Faithful Departed

Each year during the summer the Archdiocesan Cemeteries Office of Halifax offers Masses for the Faithful Departed.  These Masses happen at our three cemeteries: Gate of Heaven, Mount Olivet, and Holy Cross and offer people the opportunity to remember and honour their loved ones who are laid to rest in these grounds. All are welcome.

The schedule of Masses is:

Gate of Heaven Cemetery: Wednesday, August 19 at 7:00 pm 
114 Sackville Drive, Lr. Sackville 
This Mass is outdoors. Please bring your own lawn chair. 
In the event of rain, the Mass will be held at Saint John Vianney Church, 4 Beaverbank Rd., Lower Sackville

Mount Olivet Cemetery: Saturday, August 22 at 10:00 am 
7076 Mumford Rd., Halifax 
This Mass is outdoors. Please bring your own lawn chair. 
In the event of rain, the Mass will be held at Saint Agnes Church, 6903 Mumford Rd.

Holy Cross Cemetery: Tuesday, September 15 at 5:00 pm 
This Mass takes place in Our Lady of Sorrows Church (The Chapel Built in a Day) on the cemetery grounds.

Catholic Cemeteries of Halifax Contact

Christine Spears
Cemetery Lead
Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth 
(902) 429-9800 Ext. 308
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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 IMG 2500 webHalifax-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)