General Information - Glossary of Terms

All Souls' Day - November 2 is traditionally celebrated as All Souls' Day, a day when we remember and pray for those who are deceased. The Catholic Cemeteries holds an All Souls' Day Mass on the Sunday closest to November 2, which typically draws upwards of 3,000 participants. This Mass is held at Our Lady of Victory Mausoleum in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery on Plains Road in Burlington and is celebrated by Bishop Anthony Tonnos.
At-Need - This is the term used when funeral and burial arrangements are made on behalf of a person immediately after his or her death. If the arrangements are made when death is imminent it is known as "pre-at-need."
Catholic Cemetery - A cemetery set aside for use by Catholics. The ground has been consecrated (blessed) by the Bishop of the Diocese. The Diocese of Hamilton has 14 cemeteries and six mausolea managed by an independent organization known as The Catholic Cemeteries of the Diocese of Hamilton.
Columbarium - A columbarium is a small, usually free-standing structure within a cemetery, designed for the permanent entombment of cremated remains. A columbarium may also be built into a mausoleum. The outer walls of a columbarium contain small compartments - called niches - into which urns holding cremated remains are placed. The niches are then sealed. The Catholic cemeteries that have outdoor columbariums are Resurrection, Holy Sepulchre, Gate of Heaven, Holy Cross in Brantford, and Marymount in Guelph. Our mausolea also include columbaria, which are indoor wall niches into which an urn with cremated remains is placed.
Container (Outer) - An outer container, also known as a vault, or liner, is a concrete container into which the casket is placed for burial in the ground.
Cremation - Cremation is the process whereby the body is incinerated by intense heat and flame. The body and its container (e.g. a casket) are vaporized with the exception of any non-combustible materials. Cremation usually takes about three hours. The cremated remains are placed into a dignified container and then either buried or placed in columbarium.
The Catholic Cemeteries of the Diocese of Hamilton opened the Holy Cross Catholic Cremation Centre in Brant County in November, 2003.
Crypt - A crypt is a long, horizontal storage area inside a mausoleum, specially built to hold one or more caskets. After entombment the crypt is sealed. The exterior of each crypt includes names, dates and a place for flowers and a photo. Like lots, crypts can be purchased in advance.
Diocese of Hamilton - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton extends from Winona to Tobermory, as far west as Brantford and as far east as Oakville. It includes 124 parishes. The administrative office of the Diocese of Hamilton is located on the grounds of Cathedral of Christ the King on King Street West in Hamilton, Ontario.
Entombment - This is the term used when a casket or urn is placed in an above-ground mausoleum crypt or columbarium niche.
Funeral Liturgy - A funeral liturgy describes the three parts of the Rite of Christian Funerals, and includes the visitation prayers (also known as "the vigil"), funeral Mass and also committal prayers at the cemetery.
Grave liner - This is also known as an "outer container". A grave liner is a concrete container which is placed in a grave for the purpose of holding the casket. Using a grave liner ensures the grave will not settle or "sink" over time. The Catholic Cemeteries manufactures and sells concrete grave liners that can be purchased at the time a lot is selected.
Ground Burial - This is the term used when a casket or container with cremated remains is placed in the ground. An inscribed upright monument or flat marker identifies the grave.
Interment - The act of committing a person's earthly remains to a grave. The Rite of Committal takes place at the time of interment.
Lot - A lot is the place in the cemetery used for burial of a casket or cremated remains. Many people call this a grave or "plot".
Mausoleum - A mausoleum is a special building for the purpose of entombment. It is blessed by the Bishop and located within a cemetery. A mausoleum contains crypts designed to hold one or more caskets. A mausoleum may also have columbaria - wall niches for cremation urns. The Diocese of Hamilton has six mausolea. Each also has a chapel area where memorial Masses can be held.
Memorialization - This is a term used to describe the various ways we remember our deceased loved ones. Memorialization can include a vigil light at a gravesite, a grave marker, the placing of floral tributes at a grave or crypt, a memorial tree or bench, attendance at a memorial Mass, etc.
Niche - A niche can be:
- A small compartment box with glass sides that contains an urn with cremated remains and often a photograph of the deceased.
- An enclosed compartment for an urn holding cremated remains. This type of niche is like a very small, sealed drawer that may be located on a wall (known as columbaria) within a mausoleum or be part of an outdoor structure specifically for cremated remains, known as a columbarium.
Pre-planning - Pre-planning, also known as "pre-need", is when a person makes arrangements for his or her own funeral and burial. It can include such things as deciding where visitation and funeral services will be held and the purchase of a lot, crypt or niche. The Catholic Cemeteries provides information and assistance with pre-planning.
Sometimes family members make arrangements on behalf of a loved one when death is imminent. This is called "pre-at-need".
Rite of Committal - The Rite of Committal is the third part of the funeral liturgy. It is the final farewell at the gravesite or inside a mausoleum. It is usually conducted by a priest or parish minister at the cemetery, and includes prayers and readings.
Urn - This term is used to describe any container used to hold cremated remains. Cremation urns may be made of wood, bronze or marble. They can be purchased from The Catholic Cemeteries or from funeral homes.
Vault - A vault is another name for the concrete container, or grave liner, that holds the casket inside a grave. It is called a vault when the container is lined with plastic, stainless steel or has some other features to seal against moisture.
Vigil - This is the visitation that takes place at a funeral home one to three days prior to the funeral. At the end of the vigil (the night before the funeral), a priest, deacon or parish minister leads prayers for the family. The Order of Christian Funerals provides beautiful services for this occasion or sometimes the rosary is said.
Vigil Lights - This is a permanent light present at the gravesite or beside a crypt.