PCS – PARISH CEMETERY SERVICES

The Department of Parish Cemetery Services was established in October 1990 after then Bishop Donald Wuerl appointed The Catholic Cemeteries Association to “supervise and monitor all parish cemeteries” in the diocese.  There are 116 parish cemeteries affiliated with 82 parishes throughout the six counties of the diocese.  Four primary goals were identified to assist parish cemeteries: 

• To implement a standardized records and procedures system for the office and field   
• To assist the parish cemeteries in becoming financially self-sufficient
• To calculate the necessary level of perpetual care funds for each parish cemetery 
• To provide accurate information on legalities and contractual matters related to cemetery management 

In addition, the PCS office serves as a central office where parish cemetery staffs call with questions regarding problem situations and legalities.  Also, numerous calls are received from family members who live out of the area who are searching for a telephone number where they can locate the burial sites of loved ones in order to visit or do genealogy searches..

PCS – Newsletters

The Parish CEMETERIAN newsletter has been published twice a year by the Parish Cemetery Services Department since 1998 for all parish cemeteries in the Diocese of Pittsburgh (116 cemeteries affiliated with 82 parishes).  It contains articles of practical information for use by cemetery office and field staffs.  It is an in-house newsletter that would not apply to the general public.  However, occasionally there is an article that has information that would be of interest to the general public.  These articles will be included in this web site soon.

Please also see the Parish Cemetery Services FAQ items under the sales area.