State Catholic Conference

Peter Ryan asks:

Do you have a State Catholic Conference ? Does it work well? How can we strengthen our local conferences?

Purpose:

The purposes of such a gathering shall be to bring together a voluntary group of each diocese of Roman Catholic cemetery personnel.

To foster the Christian concepts of interment in its full aesthetic and traditional dimensions in accordance with the best of contemporary Catholic theological thought;

To combine efforts to meet, in its many forms, the modern challenge to the Catholic cemetery;

To provide an opportunity for the discussion of matters of mutual concern to the participating Catholic cemeteries;

To promote a high standard of cemetery management and operation in the service of the Catholic community;

To carry out research on problems of the Catholic cemetery and to make recommendations for prudent action based on that research;

To collaborate with associated industries in upgrading the standards of service and improving community regard for our common endeavors;

To cooperate with other associations and cemeteries, Catholic and non-sectarian, to promote these and similar aims on a regional or national basis; and

To engage in any other lawful activity which may hereafter be authorized from time to time by the State Catholic Conference; provided, however, that the purposes for which the group is formed shall at all times be consistent with Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenues Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as it now exists of as hereafter amended, including within such purposes the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Code.

How the Interactions help?
• As a group, meetings should be held at least twice a year. The Catholic Conference Staff, in particular the Executive Director, and/or an appointee of the Executive Director should attend these meetings regularly.
• Formation of statements for Bill Memos At times contribution to Memorandum of Support and Memorandum of Opposition
• The Cemetery Directors group assists the Conference that advocates for the agenda of the Bishops as it relates to cemetery matters that impact state government. Seek to work in partnership with the state cemetery laws to fashion cemetery policies and practices that respect the human person after natural death and uphold the catholic burial traditions.
• Positions and efforts continue with statements are made with malice toward none and charity toward all.

Peter Ryan
Diocese of Rockville Centre
pryan@holyroodcemetery.org
516-334-7990