| Rules
and Regulations
There are three
distinct groups that must be considered in the exercise of
the Corporal Work of Mercy known as the Burial of the Dead.
Those who are buried, entombed, or inurned in our cemeteries
are the first group. The Rules and Regulations are written
for their protection. These individuals are entitled,
even after they have died, to respectful burial, to the care
and maintenance of their interment spaces, to a holy and beautiful
environment of the Catholic cemetery, in recognition of our
belief that cemeteries are “resting places” as
we await as a community of faith for the final resurrection.
The second group consists of the survivors and visitors to
Catholic Cemeteries . Among this group would be those who
have purchased spaces for future use, those who have loved
ones or friends buried in one or more of our cemeteries, those
who utilize our cemeteries as places for prayer and meditation,
or those who come to our cemeteries to render services either
to families or cemetery management and operations.
The third group that must be considered includes the Catholic
Church itself, its rituals, disciplines and procedures, cemetery
management and all cemetery support staff who are charged
not only with the application of the Church’s directives,
but who also must interact with families requiring our services,
or visitors and others who come to the cemeteries to render
services either on behalf of families or cemetery management.
These Rules and Regulations are designed to chart a course
of mutual cooperation and protection for all of these groups
and the individuals within them. They are intended to
help sanctify the living memories of those buried within the
cemeteries and to create an environment within the cemeteries
that awakens faith and brings consolation. The enforcement
of the rules will assist in protecting the cemeteries, creating
and preserving their beauty, and ensuring that the interests
of all concerned parties are equally addressed.
Rules and Regulations play an important part in the beautification
and preservation of the sacred resting place of the faithful
departed. They are intended not as restraining, but rather
as defining an orderly plan of operation, care and permanent
maintenance.
A complete copy of current Rules and Regulations is available
for inspection at the Cemetery Office or by downloading the
following PDF document called the General
Rules and Regulations Document or the Monument
Rules and Regulations . Please refer to the Cemetery Office
for clarification of these Rules and Regulations or for further
information concerning cemetery.
For the mutual protection of Certificate holders and the Cemeteries
and all who visit our cemeteries, the following General Rules
and Regulations have been adopted by Catholic Cemeteries of
Rockville Centre Diocese in the State of New York, as the
rules and regulations of Catholic Cemeteries, which are owned
and operated by Catholic Cemeteries of the Diocese of Rockville
Centre.
All Certificate holders, visitors, funeral directors, monument
dealers and any persons or contractors, companies, etc. performing
related or other work within these cemeteries, and all graves,
plots, crypts and niches sold, shall be subject to these rules
and regulations, and subject further to such other rules,
regulations, amendments or alterations as shall be adopted
by Catholic Cemeteries of Rockville Centre Diocese from time
to time. References to these rules and regulations
in the Certificate of the Right of Burial (Certificate) shall
have the same force and effect as if set forth in full therein.
General Statements Concerning the Planting and Decorating
and other Rules and Regulations at our Cemeteries
All of us in Catholic cemetery ministry are deeply saddened
when a bereaved family experiences pain and disappointment
rather than comfort and consolation at a cemetery. We
can well appreciate each visitor’s feelings and comments
regarding the problems with the enforcement of these Rules
and Regulations .
Many families wish to decorate their loved one’s burial
place as an _expression of their love and caring. The
cemetery has to balance these desires with more practical
concerns of appearance and upkeep. While not everyone
will agree with all the rules, we ask that everyone accept
them as contributing to our common goal - a well-kept and
safe cemetery.
Cemetery regulations are a necessity to provide order, neatness
and efficiency in operations. Without them the appearance
of the Cemetery would greatly suffer. We have made attempts
to inform Certificate holders and visitors of these rules
with posted notices. Printed copies of our rules and
regulations have been distributed with each Certificate of
Right of Burial (cemetery certificate) or grave/crypt/niche
contract and additional copies are available upon request
to the cemetery office. Each of these acts serves to alert
visitors of these Rules and Regulations .
Unfortunately regulations are not always to everyone’s
taste, but most cemeteries have similar regulations which
are the result of many years experience in trying to assist
families in their grief, in creating an appearance of beauty
and good order and in allowing the cemetery staff to perform
their work efficiently.
“When Infractions and Corrections occur
No notice is given and no compensation is permitted.”
The cemetery reserves the right to remove decorations that
have deteriorated, as well as decorations that do not meet
the guidelines in order to maintain the beauty, dignity, and
safety of the cemetery grounds including gravesites, shrines,
chapel and mausoleum areas.
The cemetery cannot be responsible for decorations that are
removed. Damage resulting from improper decorations cannot
be covered for reimbursement nor can the cemetery assume responsibility
for decorations disappearance. Rectification of any
damage shall be the grave/crypt/niche original owner or the
heirs of the grave/crypt/niche original owner.
Decorations should not be on the ground outside specified
designated planting and decorating areas for the gravesites
and crypts because they obstruct access to adjacent lots or
crypts and present a safety hazard to staff, equipment and
other visitors.
Management reserves the right to change, modify, or rescind
the rules and regulations as it seems fit and deems necessary.
The general beauty and maintenance of the cemetery grounds
(gravesites and the mausoleum areas) naturally suffers to
the extent that time and labor is consumed in correcting infractions
of the rules. If infractions are permitted or overlooked,
it would tend to result in increased infractions.
The Cemetery staff does dispose of decorations placed at the
gravesite, crypt or niche that are in violation of the published
rules. The cemetery staff is often instructed to take
these materials away from public view to discourage others
from placing similar items at the grave, crypt or niche.
Why the cemetery has rules?
Our goal is to:
Foster cooperation between the cemetery and those who visit
here.
Insure the continuation of the general plan set forth for
the cemetery grounds.
Design rules that protect visitors and workers from harm.
The cemetery’s management is committed that all our
Cemeteries are well maintained and image the Church’s
respect for the dignity of each individual human person.
Rules and Regulations play a most important part in the beautification
and preservation of the sacred resting-place of the faithful
departed. They are intended not as restraining, but
rather as defining an orderly plan of operation, care and
permanent maintenance.
The placement of cemetery tributes, whether floral or of some
other type, is strictly regulated for the common good of all
gravesites, crypts, and niches. No placed tribute, whether
floral or otherwise is considered permanent to the site.
The cemetery makes every effort to enforce rules and regulations
uniformly and with compassion .
We acknowledge and regret instances that appear contrary to
these efforts.
In compiling the regulations and in considering revisions,
we try to strike a balance between the natural desire of family
members to decorate individual gravesites, crypts, niches,
and the overriding obligation to maintain the appearance of
the cemetery with the resources at our disposal.
It is always difficult to make rules and regulations which
a wide and diverse group of persons will agree on. Our
Cemetery’s rules are the standard regulations of the
vast majority of cemeteries. The goal of cemetery planting
and decorating regulations is to make the cemetery grounds
neat and clean with an atmosphere of simplicity and elegance.
These regulations also ensure that the cemetery grounds
are a safe place for both visitors and workers. While
we certainly appreciate and commend one’s love of devotional
objects of great personal sentiment and we sincerely trust
all will understand the necessity of complying with the regulations.
Catholic cemeteries image the care of the Church for her people,
which does not cease when death occurs. Those who have
gone before us into the Communion of Saints lie in the consecrated
space of the Catholic Cemetery; they are family, friends,
fellow parishioners, and co-laborers, all believers in Jesus
Christ, Eternal Life and the Kingdom of God. Whether
summer or winter, whether in rain, snow or sunshine, those
who work the grounds must keep these facilities in a condition
that makes them both accessible and welcoming. Catholic
cemeteries are to be places of remembrance and hope, prayer
and comfort; they must be facilities that reflect the Church’s
theology about dignity of each human person, whether that
person is alive or in the tomb awaiting the day of final judgment.
Comments and suggestions are always welcomed. If you
have any questions or concerns regarding this or other matters,
feel free to contact the cemetery office
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