Denver Catholic

11 DENVER CATHOLIC | APRIL 22-MAY 12, 2017 Kids can be good at hiding abuse and neglect. 1-844-CO-4-KIDS 1-844-264-5437 You Dial the Number. We'll Make the Call. Your confidential, toll-free call can protect a child and help a family. In an emergency, call 911. co4kids.org #co4kids Kids can be good at hiding abuse and neglect. 1-844-CO-4-KIDS 1-844-264-5437 You Dial the Number. We'll Make the Call. co4kids.org #co4kids Catholics, we try to invite [everyone]." "We are an extension of the Cath- olic Church," Schaaf said. "This is a place where we pray and we recognize the ultimate truth of the resurrection story; it's not the end of the story, and we believe that. We pray for the faithful departed and for their loved ones, we seek their intercession…it's so integral to our Catholic faith." To help families who mourn the loss of a loved one, Schaaf said that the archdiocese cemeteries will provide a comfort cross or a comfort stone from Jerusalem. The cross in particular is helpful in leaving the loved ones with something tangible to remember their departed member by, as one half of the cross will be given to the family and the other will be left in the urn or casket. "With families, we try to… help fill that void of loss with faith. Without faith, it's just a grievous loss," Schaaf said. While the Church can't control what people do with remains, they can encourage them to make decisions based on the dignity of the body and the hope of resurrection. "[The question becomes] Pastorally, how do we encourage people to make better decisions, and take back the concept of the body being sacred.… It's important to keep it in a sacred spot," Schaaf said. The reservation of the ashes of the departed in a sacred place ensures that they are not excluded from the prayers and remembrance of their family or the Christian community. It prevents the faithful departed from being forgotten. The archdiocese has two Catholic Cemeteries, Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Wheat Ridge and Saint Simeon Catholic Cemetery in Aurora.¡¡ Both locations have a variety of options for burial of cremated remains. There is a cremation garden area, which is in-ground; niche space, which is above ground; and if a family is financially strained, there's the Crypt of All Souls. For more information on the cem- eteries in the archdiocese, as well as burial options, visit cfcscol- orado.org. Comfort crosses are given to help families mourn. PHOTOS BY ANDREW WRIGHT Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services o"ers a variety of burial options, including cremato- riums to store the ashes of the deceased.

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