Funeral Planning Seminar

You and your family are invited to a funeral pre-planning seminar presented by staff from Mt. Calvary and Gethsemani Catholic Cemeteries.

When: Friday, February 24th, 2012, 2:00 p.m.
Where: Indoor Mausoleum at Mt Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

Even if you have selected property at the cemetery the seminar will help guide families through the pre planning process and focus on the many decisions necessary when making funeral and burial pre-arrangements. Brochures and handouts will be provided for your information as well as a free copy of the Catholic funeral planning booklet, Now and at the Hour of our Death. Most Rev. Archbishop John G. Vlazny, “I have found this booklet to be invaluable in helping Catholic families plan both the spiritual and the practical aspects of a funeral”. We will also have a Q&A on Green Burial for anyone who may be interested in our new St. Francis Section.

Please RSVP by calling 503-292-6621 or e-mail us at staff@ccpdxor.com by February 17th, 2012.

Honor a Saint and a Loved One

Signage sponsorship program

The lawn sections at Mt. Calvary were historically named using letters of the alphabet as each section was developed, with section “A” being the first section developed and Section W being one of the more recent. Sections at Gethsemani were simply numbered in the order of their development. The naming practices were changed in the early 90’s, and new sections in our Catholic Cemeteries were more aptly named after Saints. The use of Saint names is more personal and memorable for the families served by our Catholic Cemeteries.

Your Catholic Cemeteries are now endeavoring to rename each of our older sections after a Saint and develop signage identifying each section by its new name along with a cross-reference to the previous letter or numerical name.

We are hoping that as many as 40 permanent granite signs will be erected on our grounds in the next three to five years. The project is quite an undertaking and will require significant labor and financial resources. To help offset the the estimated cost of over $30,000, we have developed a unique way to contribute. While any level of donation is greatly appreciated, a contribution of $500 brings full sponsorship of a section sign and we will add an inscription “In Memory of” your loved on the back side of the sign. Since we are a non-profit organization, these donations may be tax deductible. If you are interested, please contact the office at Mt. Calvary at (503) 292-6621 or Gethsemani at (503) 659-1350. Please keep in mind that there are a limited number of signs in each section so the opportunity to sponsor a sign will be on a first–come, first-served basis.

Mt. Calvary Opens New Green Burial Section

St. Francis section is environmentally friendly

The new St. Francis green burial section is now open with 120-grave spaces.

Green burial is an environmentally sensitive burial option that allows for the natural decomposition of the body that requires the use of sustainable, natural products for caskets such as wood, bamboo, and sea grass. The practice eliminates or drastically reduces the use of non-natural products such as embalming fluid, steel, copper, bronze and concrete typically used in traditional in-ground burials.

Rather than maintaining a typical, high maintenance setting with grass, paths and roads, the area will be re-forested as interments are made. Ultimately, the section will become a forested area that is maintained only by removal of non-native plant species. The gravel access path will be removed as interments are made. The St. Francis area will not offer traditional visitation to each grave but will instead offer an area for memorialization, reflection and prayer that overlooks the forest.

For more information visit the green burial page of our website or contact one of our counselors at 503-292-6621.

Winter Cemetery Hours

Your Catholic Cemeteries have moved to winter hours:

Your Cemetery office hours are:

Mt. Calvary 9:00-3:00
Gethsemani 9:00-3:00

We will move to summer gate hours in April.

Mt. Calvary’s gates and the indoor mausoleum will close at 4:00. Visitors are welcome on cemetery grounds during daylight hours. The cemetery is closed at dusk and is routinely patrolled by our security.

Gethsemani gates close at 4:30. A pedestrian gate is located to the side of the entrance at Gethsemani for use after the gates are closed during daylight hours.

Mt. Calvary Has Completed The St. Teresa Double Depth, Lawn Crypt Section

St. Teresa is now open for at-need and pre-need sales

Construction has been completed on a 200-grave, double depth, lawn crypt section (each container holds two caskets)near the Altar on the north side of the cemetery. The St. Teresa section has a spectacular view of both Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens. The area has been named St. Teresa after St. Teresa of Avila. You can read more about St. Teresa of Avila at catholic.org/saints . Please call if you have questions or wish to reserve a space in this beautiful new section: 503-292-6621.

We have updated our Decisions and Options page

Your Catholic Cemeteries have updated their "Decisions and Options"page. Your Catholic Cemeteries often receive phone calls asking for prices and information. It can be confusing and overwhelming when we provide families with a comprehensive price list that includes all of our options, service fees and products. The new "Decisions and Options" page is intended to provide more user friendly information on the range of options and decisions involved with both cremation and traditional interments. The pages also includes price ranges for property, related service charges and commodities. Senior Counselor Angela Nelson said that the new webpages "have been very helpful in preparing families for what to expect when pre-planning their own arrangements or in helping them understand what is involved in making arrangements for a family member."

St. Timothy Construction Underway

New lawn crypt area adjacent to the outdoor mausoleum.

Mt. Calvary has begun construction on a new section named after St. Timothy. This new section will include 60 single lawn crypts and 240 double depth lawn crypts (space for two). St. Timothy overlooks Mt. Hood and is located in the lawn adjacent to the outdoor mausoleum on the north side of the Cemetery. This is the first time since 1991 that Mt. Calvary has developed a new section that will include single side by side graves.

Construction of St. Timothy has been temporarily stopped due to winter weather. Construction will resume in June of 2012 and the project should be completed by the fall of 2012.

For more information on lawn crypts and other traditional burial options go to our page on Traditional Interment Options and Pricing or call the Mt. Calvary office at (503)292-6621.

Searchable Database Now Up and Running

Your Catholic Cemeteries releases a new and innovative program to search our records

Now you can scan our records for information about loved ones interred at Mount Calvary Portland, Mount Calvary Eugene and Gethsemani Catholic Cemeteries. Simply click “Search our Database” from the tabs at the top, enter your information and find your loved one. Records from the past year or two are not included.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call our offices at 503-292-6621.

Infant Shrine

Mt Calvary Cemetery has an Infant Shrine located in our current infant section. We commissioned the statue to be a reflection of our faith as well as offering comfort to those who have lost an infant.

Your Catholic Cemetery has an established program that provides families with infant graves free of charge and goods and services at a discounted rate. If you would like to know more about this program please contact Mt. Calvary at (503)292-6621.