We as the Church are called to be good stewards of all of the many gifts God has bestowed upon us. Gifts to this Endowment will enable the Diocese's parishes and institutions to be good stewards in the care, preservation and expansion of their capital facilities so that they remain the center of our Catholic community and the sacramental home for individuals and families. This is especially critical in our smaller and historically important parishes and institutions. God's call for evangelization compels us to respond to growth in Middle Tennessee by establishing new parishes in institutions throughout the Diocese. Your generous gifts to this Endowment enables our parishes and institutions to allocate their often limited financial resources to ministerial works of catechesis and charity.
Since the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, the Catholic Church has always set aside ground, such as Calvary Cemetery, that is blessed and consecrated by God for the specific purpose of providing Christians with a dignified and holy resting place. The sacred nature of cemeteries is directly related to the Church's belief in the resurrection of the body and the final consummation of the world. It is imperative that we keep these holy places to provide consolation for those who mourn and where our loved ones can be laid to rest in a way that dignifies and respects the sacredness of human life.
The Cemetery Perpetual Care Endowment will provide income for the ongoing maintenance of Catholic cemeteries across the Diocese.