The Catholic Cemeteries

09/07/2026

In observance of Labor Day, our offices will be closed on Monday, September 7. We will reopen with regular hours on Tuesday, September 8. Have a safe and restful holiday!

09/03/2026

Planning for the end of life can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Join The Catholic Cemeteries for a practical, comprehensive workshop covering cemetery and funeral planning, health care directives, estate planning, parish coordination, veterans benefits, senior care, and more. Expert guidance and dedicated work time will help you and your next of kin begin planning together with greater clarity and confidence.

• Saturday, November 7 | 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
• St. John the Baptist Catholic Church | New Brighton

Registration is now open! Learn more and reserve your spot at catholic-cemeteries.org/workshop.

09/02/2026

Meet our speakers!

Next in our Speaker Spotlight series is Dan McGraw, owner and fourth-generation funeral director at Gill Brothers Funeral Chapels.

A graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science, Dan brings more than 50 years of experience helping families navigate funeral planning, cremation, burial, and advance planning. He is passionate about educating individuals and families so they can make informed decisions before a crisis occurs.

At our upcoming End-of-Life Workshop: Planning with Your Next of Kin, Dan will share his expertise on funeral planning and the importance of making decisions in advance. Join us to learn what you should consider when planning a funeral and how making arrangements ahead of time can provide clarity, reduce stress, and help ensure your wishes are understood and honored.

Learn more and register today: https://catholic-cemeteries.org/workshop/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=speaker_spotlight&utm_content=dan_mcgraw

08/31/2026

Why document your funeral wishes?

Putting your funeral wishes in writing gives you an opportunity to communicate what is meaningful to you and helps your loved ones better understand your preferences when the time comes.

Even if you don't have every detail figured out, documenting what you know can provide helpful guidance and create an opportunity for meaningful conversations with your next of kin.

Bring your next of kin to our End-of-Life Workshop on November 7 to learn more about funeral and cemetery planning and how to plan ahead together: https://catholic-cemeteries.org/workshop/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=workshop_preplanning&utm_content=funeral_wishes

08/26/2026

Meet our speakers! ✨

Next in our Speaker Spotlight series is Jonquil Shipman, Executive Director of The Catholic Cemeteries.

Jonquil brings more than 20 years of experience in operations, logistics, and team leadership across the public and private sectors. A U.S. Army veteran, she served in engineering and logistics roles, including a deployment to Iraq. Today, she leads the daily operations, staff coordination, and infrastructure planning of The Catholic Cemeteries.

At our upcoming End-of-Life Workshop: Planning with Your Next of Kin, Jonquil will share practical insight into cemetery planning and the value of making important decisions in advance.

Wondering what cemetery arrangements can be made ahead of time or how pre-planning can provide clarity and ease the burden on your loved ones? Join us to learn what to consider and how to begin.

Learn more and register today: https://catholic-cemeteries.org/workshop/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=speaker_spotlight&utm_content=jonquil_shipman

08/24/2026

What is a health care directive?

A health care directive documents your health care preferences and identifies who can make medical decisions for you if you’re unable to. Having one in place can help ensure the people you trust know what matters to you and provide clarity and guidance for your loved ones during difficult or unexpected circumstances.

Planning ahead for your health care is an important part of pre-planning, and it’s something you can do long before it’s needed.

Join us at our End-of-Life Planning Workshop on November 7 to learn more about health care directives and other important parts of planning ahead. Register today: https://catholic-cemeteries.org/workshop/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=workshop_preplanning&utm_content=health_care_directives

08/21/2026

At The Catholic Cemeteries, remembrance is at the heart of what we do. Under Jonquil Shipman’s leadership, we continue to explore innovative, thoughtful ways to serve families as they honor and remember their loved ones, while staying rooted in the Catholic faith and the traditions that have guided us for generations.

From green burial and cremation to new approaches to affordability and caring for our natural surroundings, the conversation around cemeteries is evolving. Listen to Jonquil’s conversation with Anne Morehouse on the latest episode of Party of My Life to learn more about how The Catholic Cemeteries brings together both tradition and innovation.

Podcast Episode · Party of My Life · August 20 · 38m

08/19/2026

Meet our workshop speakers!

We’re kicking off our Speaker Spotlight series with Taelor Johnson, Director of Communications at Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial.

An advocate for more sustainable end-of-life options in Minnesota, Taelor helped Interra become one of only two funeral providers in the state certified by the national Green Burial Council. Interra has also received the National Funeral Directors Association’s Green Funeral Practices Award.

At our upcoming End-of-Life Workshop: Planning with Your Next of Kin, Taelor will share how green burial, an environmentally conscious approach, can be incorporated into end-of-life planning.

Join us to learn what green burial involves, how it differs from conventional burial, and what to consider when including it in your end-of-life plans. Learn more and register at https://catholic-cemeteries.org/workshop/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=speaker_spotlight&utm_content=taelor_johnson.

08/17/2026

Why do conversations with your next of kin matter?

Because your loved ones may one day have to make important decisions on your behalf, talking about your final wishes now can help ensure they understand what matters to you and feel prepared when the time comes.

Consider talking about:
• Your healthcare wishes
• Your funeral and burial preferences
• Where important documents can be found
• Who you want involved in important decisions

These conversations may not always be easy, but having them now can be a meaningful gift to the people you love.

Bring your next of kin to our End-of-Life Planning Workshop on November 7 to learn more about the important conversations that can help you plan ahead together. Register today: https://catholic-cemeteries.org/workshop/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=workshop_preplanning&utm_content=next_of_kin

08/10/2026

Why does pre-planning matter?

Pre-planning gives you the opportunity to make your wishes known, start important conversations with your loved ones, and help minimize the stress of difficult decisions later.

Over the next few weeks, we'll explore different aspects of pre-planning, from funeral and cemetery planning to legal, financial, parish, and legacy planning.

Learn more at our End-of-Life Planning Workshop on November 7: https://catholic-cemeteries.org/workshop/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=workshop_preplanning&utm_content=why_preplan