St. Mary's Cemetery is owned and operated by the Church of St. Peter in North St. Paul, Minnesota in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota, and the rules and discipline of the Roman Catholic Church, it reserves the right to refuse admission to the Cemetery and to refuse the use of any of the Cemetery’s facilities, at any time, to any person or persons whom management may deem objectionable to the best interest of the Cemetery.
In accord with the Catholic tradition, St Mary's Cemetery was formally blessed by the Catholic Church. As such, this burial ground is considered sacred in Catholic tradition. This sacred reality must always be kept in mind when considering burial rites, markers, engravings, displays, behavior, etc. St. Mary Cemetery is a communal burial ground that carries a dignified look. It is important to respect that many others share the same burial ground. The rules and regulations that follow are grounded upon the understanding that St. Mary's Cemetery is a sacred Catholic burial ground that exists in anticipation of the Resurrection.
The cemetery is intended for the burial of Catholics and members of their families who are entitled to a Christian burial according to the rules and discipline of the Roman Catholic Church. Because of the sacred nature of this cemetery, all burial rites must occur with an appropriate Christian minister present to offer the burial prayers. For Catholics this means a priest, deacon, or a trained lay minister to offer the Catholic burial rites. For those other traditions, a clergy member, or appropriately trained lay minister of the tradition of the deceased, is to be present to offer Christian burial prayers. If a minister is not available from the tradition of the deceased, Church of St. Peter will gladly provide a priest, deacon, or trained lay minister to offer the burial rites free of charge.
Religious ceremonies other than those of the Christian faith are not permitted within the Cemetery unless the consent of the Pastor has been obtained.
Cemetery grave lots may be sold to registered and non- registered parishioners, non- members of the parish, and family members of individuals buried in the Cemetery.
Unused grave lots may be privately sold, but St. Mary Cemetery must process the sale. There will be an administrative fee for the cost of the transaction. This covers the cost for a new deed and recording of the transaction
No grave shall be used for any other purpose than for burial of the human dead.
The Cemetery disclaims all responsibility for loss or damage from causes beyond reasonable control, and especially from damage caused by elements, acts of God, common enemy thieves, vandals, strikes, explosions, insurrections or order of any military or civil authority, whether the damage be direct or collateral, other than as herein provided. In some cases this would be covered in your homeowners insurance or could be added.
Grave owners are granted only the right of interment/inurnment in their grave. The Cemetery reserves the right to refuse to permit the internment/inurnment of anyone who was not at the time of death the owner of the grave and the individual listed on the title. If deceased individual is NOT listed on the title, the parish cemetery authority reserves the right to refuse interment/inurnment until satisfactory proof of inheritance or transfer by will has been established and recorded in the parish cemeteries record.
The cemetery office personnel under the direction of the parish administrator reserve the right to correct any errors that may be made in the computer software, either in making interment/inurnment, disinterment/disinurnment or removals, or in the description, transfer or conveyance of ownership of any interment property as may be necessary.
If Original Deeds need to be corrected for various reasons a revised Deed will be issued.
The Cemetery will give such care that consist of cutting the grass and maintaining general preservation of the grounds.
The general care assumed by the Cemetery shall in no case mean maintenance, repair, or replacement of any vase, basket, memorial flowers or other objects placed upon graves.
Full payment must be made before internment/inurnment services will be provided.
Funeral Director, upon arrival at the Cemetery, must present a burial permit from the local health office.
Once a casket containing a body is within the confines of the Cemetery, no funeral director nor his embalmer, assistant, employee or agent shall be permitted to open the casket, or to touch the body, without the consent of the next of kin or of the legal representative of the deceased or of an order signed by a court competent jurisdiction.
One grave full body lot (42 in. x 10 ft.) may contain: One full body and one cremain or two cremains.
No interment of a full body may be made unless the remains are contained in a casket and vault.
The burial of cremated remains in all sections must be contained in a proper receptacle. A vault is required unless the vessel used is a permanent vessel.