Catholic Cemeteries
Since the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, the Catholic Church has always set aside ground that is blessed and consecrated by God for the specific purpose of providing Christians with a dignified and holy resting place. The sacred nature of cemeteries is directly related to the Church's belief in the resurrection of the body and the final consummation of the world.
Baptized Catholics may be buried in a Catholic cemetery. Non-practicing Catholics, or Catholics who may have joined another Christian denomination, also deserve the prayers of the Church. Likewise, Non-Catholic spouses and other family members of Catholics may be buried in a Catholic cemetery. Many Catholic cemeteries have a reserved area for the burial of unborn children.
A Catholic cemetery is a place that brings together a number of elements of the Church’s pastoral mission: the proclamation of the Gospel to arouse faith, examination of the reasons for belief, celebration of the Eucharist, integration of the church community and apostolic witness. Catholic cemeteries exist because of our belief in the resurrection of the body, in some new shape or form, at the end of time. If there was no promise of resurrection and eternal life, there would be no need for Catholic cemeteries. The Church provides cemeteries to carry out the sacred religious functions of burial and to care for the resting places of the deceased. Just as the human body deserves to be treated with respect and dignity in life, so should it be treated in death. As a place dedicated and/or blessed for the burial of the faithful, it becomes identified with the local church and gives witness to the faith of those who are buried as well as to the faith of their families
As a sacred place, a Catholic cemetery is a place that serves the faithful and witnesses to the entire world the Good News of Jesus Christ and the hope we share in the resurrection. To this end, it is a place where the signs and symbols of our Catholic Faith are displayed with pride and reverence. The Catholic cemetery is the appropriate place for gathering in ritual prayer, such as the rites of committal for the dead and the celebration of the Eucharist on the Feast of All Souls. It is also a fitting place for private prayer and meditation.
Cemeteries & Columbaria
Cemeteries
St. Frances of Rome Mission, Sparta
St. Helen Mission, Spencer Mountain (parishioners only)
St. Francis of Assisi Church, Jefferson (future)
Cemeteries with columbaria
Immaculate Conception Mission, Canton
St. James the Greater Church, Concord
Holy Family Church, Clemmons (parishioners only)
Holy Cross Church, Kernersville
Sacred Heart Church, Salisbury
St. John the Evangelist Church, Waynesville
Columbaria only
St. Elizabeth Church, Boone
Sacred Heart Church, Brevard (full)
St. Joan of Arc Church, Candler (full)
St. Gabriel Church, Charlotte (full)
St. Matthew Church, Charlotte
St. Peter Church, Charlotte
St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Charlotte
St. Vincent de Paul Church, Charlotte (full)
Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission, Hayesville
St. Aloysius Church, Hickory
Christ the King Church, High Point
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, High Point (full)
Our Lady of the Mountains Mission, Highlands
St. Paul the Apostle Church, Greensboro
St. Pius X Church, Greensboro (full, with waiting list)
St. Margaret of Scotland Church, Maggie Valley (full)
St. Luke Church, Mint Hill (full)
St. William Church, Murphy
St. Margaret Mary Church, Swannanoa
St. Leo the Great Church, Winston-Salem (full)
Public cemeteries with Catholic sections
Stanly Gardens, Albemarle
Sharon Memorial Park, Charlotte
Westlawn Cemetery, Clemmons
Northlake Memorial Gardens, Huntersville
Forest Lawn East Cemetery, Matthews
