About – Diocese of Wilmington

About Catholic Cemeteries

Catholic Cemeteries, Inc. (CCI), an agency of the Diocese of Wilmington, is a non-profit organization. Our primary objective is to assist in the corporal work of mercy, burial of the dead, by operating and maintaining regional cemeteries and assisting parishes with their own cemeteries. We provide assistance with the practical details of arranging for burial, pre-need planning, and memorializing. We seek to serve all Catholics in the Diocese by providing facilities and services needed for the respectful burial of the faithful departed. We recognize and accommodate individual and family circumstances, local customs and financial position. We also provide a preferential option for those deceased Catholics whose families are unable to financially provide for the final disposition of their beloved deceased. ALL CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS ARE WELCOME!

Special Notice- A Message from Bishop

MOST REVEREND W. FRANCIS MALOOLY, DD
BISHOP OF WILMINGTON

Dear Friends in Christ,

The Catholic Church has a long history and experience of helping people prepare spiritually for death and assisting families facing the final illness, death, and burial of a loved one. An integral part of this tradition of service is providing families the opportunity and privilege of participating in the burial rites of the Church. These rites include a Wake in the funeral home, Mass of Christian Burial in the parish church, and final committal in a cemetery. The Church’s traditions and treasury of prayers surrounding these rites inspire and comfort those left behind, as they benefit the soul of the deceased.

For those considering cremation, it should be noted that the Church earnestly recommends that the first two stages of the funeral rite be celebrated with the body of the deceased present. Following the final commendation at the end of the Funeral Mass, the body is then cremated. As soon as possible after the cremation has taken place, arrangements should be made to inter or entomb these cremated human remains in a cemetery. Scattering of cremated remains or keeping them in the home is not permitted. In some instances the Church does allow cremated remains in church for the Mass of Christian Burial. The parish priest should be notified of this desire.

An integral part of the Catholic funeral rites is interment or entombment within the sacred surroundings of a Catholic cemetery. The Church has always maintained cemeteries as the resting places for those who have fallen asleep in Christ and are awaiting His return at the end of time. Burial of the Dead is a Corporal Work of Mercy, while prayer for the dead is a Spiritual Work of Mercy. Both of these actions are the core of Catholic cemetery ministry.

I commend to you the use of our Catholic cemeteries. I also encourage the faithful to visit our cemeteries and pray for those whose mortal remains are buried there. “It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead.” (2 Macabees 12:45)

May Our Lord bless you!

Most Reverend W. Francis Malooly, D.D.
Bishop Emeritus of Wilmington

Our History

Catholic Cemeteries, Inc. has been in continuous operation since 1876. It was started as the Cathedral Cemetery Company with the opening of Cathedral Cemetery on Lancaster Avenue. It served as the only Diocesan Cemetery until 1958 when All Saints Cemetery was opened in Pike Creek Valley. Over the years the cemeteries have evolved and changed from the more traditional facility with in-ground burials to a full-service cemetery with the addition of above-ground entombment facilities at both locations, interment chapel facilities at both locations and double-depth lawn crypts at All Saints Cemetery, and a new section with availability of private mausoleum sites and upright monuments at All Saints Cemetery. On Nov. 2, 2002, Bishop Saltarelli dedicated the third diocesan cemetery, Gate of Heaven, located on Route 26 at Wingate Rd. east of Dagsboro, Delaware. This Cemetery was developed to serve the growing Catholic Population in southern Delaware and the nearby counties in Maryland.

Contact & Scheduling

The cemetery offices are open by appointment. To schedule an appointment please call Cathedral and All Saints at (302) 656-3323. You will be asked to press 1 to reach Cathedral Cemetery and 2 to reach All Saints Cemetery. For Gate of Heaven Cemetery, please call (302) 732-3690.

Office hours at Cathedral and All Saints Cemeteries are 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Office hours at Gate of Heaven are 9:00 a.m. until noon Monday through Thursday.

Catholic Cemeteries of the Diocese of Wilmington also administers St. Paul Cemetery in Delaware City, Delaware. Call (302) 737-2524 for information.

A complimentary online grave locator and memorial app is available on this website.

Executive Director – Scott W Hudson
Phone (302) 656-3323
Fax (302) 656-1069
shudson@cathcemde.org

Cathedral Cemetery
Phone (302) 656-3323
Fax (302) 656-1069
shudson@cathcemde.org

All Saints Cemetery
Superintendent – Scott W. Hudson
Phone (302) 737-2524
Fax (302) 737-4091
shudson@cathcemde.org

Gate of Heaven Cemetery
Superintendent – Nicholas Hoopes.
Phone (302) 732-3690
Fax (302) 732-3692
nhoopes@cathcemde.org

Service Maintenance Request Form

Cemetery Visiting Hours

7:30am to 4:00pm every day of the year. Extended hours of visitation Wednesday, Saturday, & Sunday until 7:00pm April thru September.

Headstones & Memorials

Why do we need Catholic cemeteries?

As Catholics, we believe in life after death and everlasting happiness with God. This belief gives us strength when faced with sorrow, courage in moments of weakness, and hope as we continue our earthly journey of faith. The rite of Christian burial and burial in Catholic Cemeteries are ways Catholics bear witness to the belief that life on earth is preparation for eternal life with God. Ever since early Christians were buried in the catacombs of Rome, Catholic Cemeteries have held an important place in religious traditions and practice. They provide a sacred resting place for those who believe in the Good News of the Gospel. During times of mourning, Catholics gather strength and comfort from the Catholic community and its traditional prayers and liturgies. Surrounded by family and friends, and the familiar symbols of faith, many find consolation and courage, knowing their loved one is at peace awaiting Resurrection. And, when our temporal world requires refuge, our Catholic Cemeteries offer solace¦religious sanctuaries in an increasingly secular world. Here in private meditation or public liturgy, Catholics share their unique bond of faith with those who came before and those who follow- a bond which remains unbroken and unconquered by time or death. In the spirit of Christian unity all Christian denominations are welcome at our cemeteries.

Catholic Cemeteries of the Diocese of Wilmington is pleased to present the following videos to help answer your questions.
These videos are courtesy of the Catholic Cemetery Conference.

Three Sacred Moments

(5:11) – This video is a clear description of the three-part journey of Christian burial. It explains the importance of the Vigil, the Funeral Mass, and the Rite of Committal. The Vigil allows time for the living to tell stories about the deceased – essentially focusing on their life. The Funeral Mass focuses on the hope for the future – that our faith teaches that death has no victory – we have hope for eternal life. The Rite of Committal is the final goodbye for the loved ones and is a reminder of the importance of the reverent care of the deceased that our faith requires.

Why a Catholic Funeral

(2:18) – With testimonies from priests and family members, this short video shows the importance of a Catholic funeral not only for the deceased but also for those left behind. It shows how we imitate the reverence that was shown to Jesus’ body. It also emphasizes the importance of a family taking a role in putting the funeral Mass together as a final gift to their loved one.

(1:38) – This is a short video that uses the testimony of loved ones to focus on the beauty and the healing powers of a funeral. It shows that the funeral is not only an opportunity for loved ones to express sorrow and love for the deceased, but also to express their faith in God, and to create a lasting memory of the deceased. It re-emphasizes that through our Catholic faith there is hope for a life after death.

For more helpful and informative videos, including a series entitled, “Understanding Death,” click here.