EDMONTON - Caring for the remains of those who have died is a serious business.

Today, however, not everyone sees things that way.

The current trend to cremation, for example, often means that the remains of a person do not always end up in a cemetery. Some people choose to scatter the ashes of their loved ones.

TORONTO - The future of getting buried is all about choice, but the more choices you have to make the greater the need for planning.

“Pre-planning your estate and final burial options is important,” said Amy Profenna of Catholic Cemeteries, Archdiocese of Toronto.

“You’re taking a lot of important decisions out of an emotionally stressful time (for your family).”

The majority of Catholic Cemeteries funerals are still caskets buried in the ground. This may sound straight-forward, but there are still choices to be made, said Profenna.

There are very significant questions that Catholics must ask themselves at various times in their lives. Decisions that need to be made with long-term consequences. Among these, when a loved one passes from this life, should a Catholic cemetery be contacted for a burial place?

What are the reasons that we choose one cemetery over another? What distinguishes Catholic cemeteries from the other cemeteries in our area?

How do I want my estate money distributed at my death? Pose the question to yourself when you’re eating alone or taking a relaxed coffee break. How much to family? How much to charity? Any bequests to friends?

This little exercise will get you thinking... and maybe get you past any reluctance you now have about doing an official will. It might also lead to a revision of a will you already have in place.

“Then He called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them the authority over the unclean spirits to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness”
- (Matthew 10:1)

TORONTO - Pastoral care for the sick and the dying is a very important mission in the spiritual life of the Catholic Church. And just as it is important to plan for our earthly comforts, each of us should have a plan that encompasses our spiritual needs.

At St. Michael’s Hospital, as the priest-chaplain appointed by the archbishop, I work in the department of spiritual care (formerly known as the chaplaincy department) as part of a team consisting of several staff chaplains from different faith traditions. As the priest-chaplain I provide spiritual care specifically to the Roman Catholic members.

Facebook can’t replace a human face, but it can bring it closer.

ShareLife, the charitable fundraising arm of the archdiocese of Toronto, relies on human faces to get its message out and bring dollars in. But social media — including Facebook and Twitter — are bringing in more and more dollars and reaching out to more and more donors.

“ShareLife began as a grassroots movement with people canvassing door-to-door,” said ShareLife communications manager Bill Steinburg.

Few people realize that insurance can be used to make a substantial gift to their parish or favourite archdiocesan charity at a relatively low monthly cost.

Depending on your age, the amount of the policy and your tax bracket, a gift of insurance could cost you less than a dollar a day after tax.

One of the most frequently encountered situations in estate litigation involves the improper use of joint accounts.

Joint accounts are a useful tool but they can also be abused. In fact, lawyers have seen a sharp increase in litigation and disputes arising from the use of jointly held property.

To illustrate, let us assume a fictional Mrs. Smith who has four children. She has left all her assets to be divided equally among them after providing for a number of charitable bequests to her favourite charities. Keep her in mind as you read.

Holding Property Jointly

When making a donation to the Church in your will, remember that what you leave behind doesn’t necessarily have to be monetary.

Non-cash gifts, referred to as gifts in kind, can include stamps, coins, art, musical instruments, real estate, an old car, jewellery, books or computers, according to information published on the archdiocese of Toronto’s development office web site.

These may be gifts used in day-to-day parish activity that enhance spiritual development or help the Catholic community.

TORONTO - Organ donation is a very Catholic act because it lives the Gospel values, said Deacon Michael Hayes.

Hayes is a living example. He himself is an organ donor who has donated 70 per cent of both his liver and a kidney to help others survive.

“When our earthly days are done, you can take nothing with you which you’ve received, only which you’ve given,” said Hayes, quoting St. Francis of Assisi.