Diocese of Honolulu Joins Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries Puts Forth Plans to Transform the Ministry Amidst COVID-19. During a Time When So Many are Suffering and the Catholic Church is Facing Many Unique Challenges, Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries Brings Innovative Plan to Transform the Funeral and Cemetery System in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Honolulu, Hawaii – September 10th, 2020 – The Diocese of Honolulu, Hawaii partners with Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries in a new effort to transform the diocese’s funeral and cemetery system amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. During a time of uncertainty and distress, Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries aims to provide solutions for dioceses around the country in order for them to continue to serve families who are suffering and grieving at a time of personal loss.
Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a dignified Catholic funeral and burial to families during an end-of-life journey. Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries provides a full range of resources and support to dioceses, in conjunction with developing and operating its funeral and cemetery system. As part of the partnership with the Diocese of Honolulu, Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries will begin by building columbaria in a number of parishes to allow Catholics the opportunity to inter the cremated remains of family members where they have worshipped for generations. The long-term goal is to build a Catholic cemetery program to serve all Catholics and their families. As part of the program, Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries will be hiring a new Director of Cemeteries and will begin with an outreach program to parishes early in 2021. In short, Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries offers a broad range of support services and strives to transform the funeral and cemetery systems in (Arch)dioceses to best support the faithful and Churches during their time of need. This partnership comes at no risk to the diocese – as Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries has raised the funding to provide a complete turnkey solution.
“We are excited to partner with Bishop Silva and the Diocese of Honolulu in taking the first steps in revitalizing their current funeral and cemetery system,” said Robert Seelig, founder and CEO of Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries. “We are committed to helping Catholic families on their end-of-life journey and providing support to those working for the diocese. It is our goal to make sure that all are served with care and dignity, and to be sure that the Church has the resources it needs to help its families when they need it the most.”
Bishop Silva commented, “I have known Robert Seelig for over 15 years when he led the Diocese of Oakland in revitalizing their cemetery system. We have had a long tradition in Hawaii of caring for our dead. This new program will allow our Diocese the opportunity to serve our faithful in ways that have been challenged over the past few decades.”
Seelig concluded: “We have been working closely with the Diocese of Honolulu for some time now, discussing changes to their funeral and cemetery system that could better serve the Church and the faithful, and we’re excited to bring those plans to fruition.”
For more information about Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries, and/or to schedule an interview with Robert Seelig, please contact Kate Bryan – [email protected]