Saint John's Abbey Cemetery Regulations

Date approved:  March, 2008

It is a ministry of Saint John’s Abbey to offer burial options to alumni/ae, oblates, employees and friends.  The Roman Catholic Church’s Code of Canon Law states that “appropriate norms are to be enacted by particular law for the management of cemeteries, especially in what concerns the protection and the fostering of their sacred character.”  In keeping with this precept, Saint John’s Abbey has developed this set of rules and regulations for the mutual protection and benefit of all who purchase a burial lot or columbarium space, who visit the cemetery, and who work in and care for the cemetery.   

General Information

Ownership

The Order of Saint Benedict (also referred to as Saint John’s Abbey), a nonprofit religious corporation, owns and operates Saint John’s Abbey Cemetery.  The cemetery includes, but is not limited to, the common areas, roadways, burial grounds and columbaria. 

Location

Saint John’s Abbey Cemetery is located on land owned by The Order of Saint Benedict alongside Country Road 156 on the western shores of Lake Sagatagan, in the township of Collegeville, in the County of Stearns and in the State of Minnesota.   

General Cemetery Regulations

Burial Permits

All interments require a burial permit, or in the case of cremation, a certificate of cremation at the time of interment. 

Burial Rights

The purchase of a cemetery lot or cremation niche is actually the purchase of a “burial right” within that space.  The purchaser becomes the “burial rights holder.”  Burial rights purchased in the names of more than one person shall be deemed to be joint tenants with full rights of survivorship, and the interest of the person dying shall automatically pass to the other joint owner(s).  Minnesota statutes/laws in effect at the time of the last listed burial rights holder’s death is used to determine the status and sequence of heirs.  Any person becoming the burial rights holder by succession shall be subject to all existing conditions and regulations.

Certificate of Burial Right

The legal document presented to the person(s) who have completed the purchase of a cemetery space.     

Care and Maintenance

A percentage of each lot or niche sale is set aside for the perpetual care of the cemetery.  Perpetual care includes mowing and trimming grass, snow removal on the roadways, landscaping and the overall order and cleanliness of the cemetery. General maintenance and long-term preservation of the cemetery are the goals.  Perpetual care does not cover the maintenance, repair or replacement of grave stones or niche memorial covers, including damage caused by weather, regular maintenance or vandalism.  In the event of damage to a headstone or niche cover, the closest known relative will be informed.

Cemetery Boundaries

Saint John’s Abbey retains the right to enlarge, reduce, re-plat or change the boundaries or grading of the Cemetery from time to time, including the right to modify or change the locations of trees, shrubs, roads, benches, drives and walkways.  The Cemetery also reserves a perpetual right of ingress and egress over lots for the purpose of access to and from other lots, including the movement of heavy equipment.

Conduct

All persons visiting or doing business within the cemetery must respect the area as a sacred and holy place.  Activities that are specifically not allowed include:

  • No intoxicating beverages, illegal substances, or chemicals.

  • No picnics or lunches.

  • No excessive noise or boisterous conduct.

  • No placing or distributing any signs or notices not approved by the Abbey Cemetery management.

  • No peddling or soliciting the sale of any object or material.

  • No firearms other than law enforcement officers or a military Guard of Honor.

  • Any activity or behavior deemed inappropriate by cemetery staff and/or campus security.

Correction of Errors

Saint John’s Abbey Cemetery reserves the right to correct any inadvertent errors that may arise in the description of a lot or niche, in granting of any interment rights, or in any incorrect interments in a lot or niche.  In these instances, the purchaser may receive interment rights in a lot or niche of equal and similar location as far as is reasonably possible and as may be selected by the purchaser or receive a refund of the money paid. 

Decorations

The cemetery property is sacred ground.  Families have individual needs to express their grief; yet in keeping the cemetery a prayerful, dignified and safe space for all, the following rules have been adopted:

Decorations Allowed

  • Fresh-Cut Flowers: We encourage the use of fresh-cut flowers.  Temporary vases for fresh flowers will be available near the cemetery entryways for visitors to place at a grave site or niche.   Permanent flower vases that recess into the ground for lawn maintenance are also permitted.  Wilted flowers will be removed by the cemetery personnel as needed.  Plastic flowers are not allowed due to the long- term environmental impact. 

  • Potted Plants:  Permitted the weeks before and after Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Memorial Day.  Plants remaining after these dates will be removed, and the cemetery may not be held responsible for damaged or discarded potted plants. 

  • Christmas Decorations:  Christmas wreaths and fresh greens (no plastic please) are permitted from Thanksgiving through January 31st.  Cemetery personnel will remove and dispose of any remaining wreaths and greens beginning on February 1st. 

  • Flags:  United States flags no higher than 18” are permissible at grave sites the weeks before and after Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veteran’s Day and should be placed flush with the front base of the headstone or at the borders of columbaria niches.  Flags placed next to the columbarium niches must not obscure any other individual’s niche cover.  Flags remaining after the prescribed times will be collected by Cemetery personnel.

  • Funeral floral arrangements:   Fresh floral arrangements at a new grave site may be displayed as long as they remain in good condition.  If not removed by the family, any wilted/weathered arrangements will be removed by cemetery staff.

Decorations Not Allowed

  • No glass or ceramic items are allowed in the cemetery for safety reasons.

  • No artificial decorations:  No artificial decorations of any kind may be placed on the grave sites or niche covers, including but not limited to:  plastic/silk flowers or plants, rocks, statues, pictures, wind chimes, mobiles, signs, food, beverages, banners, flags, toys, stuffed animals, benches of any kind, shepherd’s hooks, etc.  

  • Lights:  No vigil lights, solar lights or any type of lighting may be placed in the cemetery because of their fragile nature and their susceptibility to weather conditions or accidents.

Disinterments within Saint John’s Abbey Cemetery

Disinterments for the purpose of reinterments WITHIN the Saint John’s Abbey Cemetery do not require a written order from the Department of Health (based on State law), but do require written consent from the spouse or next of kin. 

Disinterments to Other Cemeteries

The disinterment of a burial for the purpose of reinterment in another cemetery requires the written permission of the lot owner, the next of kin of the deceased, and the proper permits from the Health Department.  A minimum of one week’s notice is required.  The fee for a disinterment is the same as for an interment, and the cemetery must be paid in full before any disinterment work can proceed. 

Eligibility for Interment

Burial rights are available to alumni/ae of Saint John’s University, Saint John’s Preparatory School and Saint John’s School of Theology; family, friends and Oblates of Saint John’s Abbey; current and former employees of the Order of Saint Benedict and its subsidiaries and ministries; friends of Saint John’s; and inclusive of these individual’s family members.  If there is a question of eligibility, please contact the Cemetery Office staff for clarification. 

Interment Requirements

Only human remains may be interred or buried.  

Liability

Saint John’s Abbey assumes no liability for the maintenance or preservation of the ashes/urns of any person interred in the columbaria.  No liability is assumed for the maintenance or preservation of headstones or memorials or damage or loss caused by the elements, vandals, theft, or other causes beyond reasonable control.  Any damage to headstones or niche covers will be reported to family members where contact information is available. 

Pricing

The price of the cemetery lot or niche is based on location in the cemetery and the number of individuals included in the burial plans.  Prices are subject to change until a purchase agreement has been signed and approved.

Purchases

The purchase of a lot or niche conveys to the purchaser the right to use the space inside the lot or niche, but no ownership or interest in the cemetery lot or columbarium, or any interest in real estate is implied.  Saint John’s Abbey retains the legal title to all cemetery burial properties.  The purchase of a burial right is made through the Cemetery Office either in advance of need or at the time of need.  A payment plan is available for pre-need purchases; however each lot and/or niche must be paid in full at the time of interment. 

Record Keeping

Records maintained at the Cemetery Office include both hard copy and database software records of all lot and niche purchases and all interments, including location of interments.  Burial Rights holders are encouraged to maintain current address and contact information with the Cemetery Office.

Rules and Rule Changes

These Cemetery Procedures and Regulations, as well as any amendments which may be made from time to time, apply to all purchasers of cemetery property.   Saint John’s Abbey reserves the right to amend, change or modify these rules, including the fees listed separately for lot/niche pricing and opening/closing fees, at any time and without notice. 

Transfers and Refunds

The exclusive right to use a lot or niche in the Saint John’s Abbey Cemetery may not be sold nor transferred in any manner by the purchaser, their family or their heirs.  A lot or niche may only be surrendered back to Saint John’s Abbey. If such termination is approved by the Cemetery Office, funds paid shall be refunded less a 10% service fee, and less any additional fees incurred by Saint John’s Abbey (i.e., recording fees, engraving of niche covers, headstone foundation work, etc).

Unusual Circumstances

Any and all matters arising in connection with the operation and maintenance of Saint John’s Abbey Cemetery not covered in these Procedures and Regulations shall be determined by Saint John’s Abbey, with notice to the Purchaser, where necessary or practical.

Traditional Burial – Ground Interment

Burial Spaces

Each individual ‘traditional’ in-ground burial lot is 3 feet wide by 10 feet long.  Each grave will accommodate a standard adult vault. Typically, a lot is sold for one full body interment.  However, two burials are permitted per grave site (lot) provided they meet one of the criteria listed below:    

  • Full body interment and one cremated remains

  • Full body interment and one infant

  • Two cremated remains

  • One cremated remains and one infant  

Caskets/Coffins

The minimum requirement is that all traditional in-ground burials must be in a flat-bottomed container that can be closed, that will support the weight of the deceased, and that can be lowered with a lowering device. A fiberglass casket is satisfactory for the burial of infants. 

Double Lots

Certain areas in the cemetery have been designated as “double lots,” intended for two people who wish to be interred side-by-side with a shared monument.  Note that for the interment of a husband and wife in a double lot, we will follow the practice of the man being buried on the left and the woman on the right (when standing facing the headstone.) 

Embalming

Minnesota law does not require that the deceased be embalmed, therefore both embalmed and non-embalmed remains for interment are permissible.

Layout of in-ground lots

The cemetery master plan indicates specific location for single and double lots and in-ground cremation lots, with predetermined headstone styles for these areas.   The location and number of lots purchased determines the size and type of headstone or monument permitted.  Please contact the Cemetery Office for specific styles for your lots.

Opening and Closing Costs

Each traditional in-ground burial is charged individually for opening and closing costs.  This covers the cost of locating the grave site, bringing in equipment to remove the earth from the site, cemetery staff to replace the soil and sod, recording keeping, etc.  Each burial is charged separately for opening/closing costs, regardless if more than one burial is performed at a time.   

Vaults for traditional burials and cremated remains

All caskets need to be interred inside a separate cement burial vault with the exceptions of the interment of infants.  (Depending on the location of the infant interment—a sturdy casket/vault combination may be used instead of a traditional vault.) The vault is required to help prevent the settling of the earth.  

Scheduling a Burial or Interment Service

Scheduling a Burial

Either the funeral director or the family may contact the Cemetery Office at 320-363-3434 to schedule a burial.  A minimum of one working day’s advance notice is required so that the cemetery staff may make the proper arrangements.  Cemetery services may be scheduled weekdays up until 3:30 p.m. and on Saturday’s up until 12 noon. 

Scheduling Interment of Cremation Remains

To schedule an interment in the columbaria, contact the Cemetery Office staff at 320-363-3434.  A minimum of one day’s advance notice is requested.  

Winter Burials

The scheduling of a burial in the winter may require more than one day’s notice depending on the snow and frost conditions. 

Blessing of Interment

When a burial or a cremation interment takes place apart from a funeral service, a blessing service will be conducted at the time of interment by some members of Saint John’s Abbey. 

Saint John’s Abbey Church

It is permissible for those who have purchased a burial lot or niche in the Saint John’s Abbey Cemetery to use the Saint John’s Abbey Church for the funeral or memorial service -- on a space-available basis.   No services may be held on Sundays or holidays or specified holy days. 

Scheduling Services in the Abbey Church

A minimum of one day’s advance notice is required to arrange for a funeral mass at Saint John’s Abbey Church, keeping in mind that scheduling of services is on a space-available basis only.  The Cemetery Office staff will assist with the arrangements (they can be reached at 320-363-3434.)  The Abbey Church is used for many different services and events, and therefore, families must be flexible with dates and times for the service.  Each service shall be scheduled for a period of no more than two hours (including arrival and departure times) and the Abbey Church must be vacated within this time frame.   There is no charge for the use of the Abbey Church provided the burial/interment takes place in the Abbey Cemetery.

Days Burials Not Permitted

No burial services will be held on Sundays or on holidays or holy days, including New Year’s Day (January 1), Martin Luther King Day, Holy Thursday/Good Friday/ Holy Saturday of Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day (December 25). 

Headstones and Markers

Saint John’s Abbey Cemetery requires that all monuments (headstones) and markers meet certain size and style specifications.  The Cemetery has the right to remove any headstone that has been installed without meeting the specifications of Saint John’s Abbey Cemetery.  All headstones must be pre-approved in writing by the Saint John’s Abbey Cemetery staff including material, style, color and lettering design and layout.  

General Marker and Monument Stone Requirements

  • Markers and monuments will be of natural, first grade granite only; free from seams or cracks. 

  • Composites or other materials are not permitted.

  • All parts of a monument must be made of the same style/color of granite.

  • Only headstones of a basically rectangular shape are allowed; no unusual carvings, cut-outs or benches.

  • The layout of the cemetery requires specific headstone styles for designated lots.  Purchasers should confirm with the cemetery staff the size of monument required with each lot purchase.

  • Only one marker may be placed at any one grave site, although more than one name may be inscribed.

  • Markers and monuments will be placed at the head of each grave site.  In the case of a double lot, it will be centered on the two lots.

  • No moldings or decorative edges are to be carved on the top or bottom corners of the headstones or bases.

  • No bronze plaques, ceramic photos or other materials should be affixed to the marker or monuments.

  • No flower vases should be attached to the monuments (invertible in-ground vases are allowed).

  • No footstones are permitted with the exception of those provided by the military for U.S. veterans.

Colors

Headstones and markers in the general areas of the cemetery may be of the following colors.  (See Estate Sections for specifics on colors for headstones in that section.)

  • Barrie Grey

  • Sierra White

  • China Grey

  • St. Cloud Grey

  • Impala Black

  • Starbright Black

  • Bon Red

  • Carnelian

  • Imperial Rose

  • Colonial Rose

  • Plum Rose

  • Wausau Red

 Inscription Specifications

  • Font styles are each individual purchaser’s choice.

  • Inscriptions or symbols are limited to Christian symbols, bible verses or approved quotes. 

  • Engraved flower sprays, borders and lines are permitted. 

  •  Engraving the family name or children’s names on the back of the headstone is permissible.

  • No laser engraving or diamond etching of symbols or artwork.  Shape carved only.

  • No ceramic pictures, photographs or reproduction of photographs may be added.  These are known to break, fade or degrade over time.

  • Only white or black highlighting may be used to enhance the lettering.  No other colors, please.