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Father, I'm 61 and my son Tony passed away last December 13th. I've been away from the Church since high school, but I was raised Catholic at St. Stephen's church and parochial school. My ex-wife and I decided to have our son cremated, but were not aware that keeping some of his cremains to put in separate urns for us and our remaining children was not proper, until I read you recent reply to a woman that asked if it was OK to keep a pinch of cremains to place in jewelry. Your reply was that the cremains should be interred intact. My ex lives 500 miles away from me. I kept some cremains, and my ex intends to spread the rest up north on the land Tony loved so much. Should I send the cremains I have back to her or bury them or what? I'd like to do the right thing in the eyes of the Church. Thanks for your time and counsel.
Juan Barrera
Hi, Juan:
Thanks for the question.
I sure am sorry to hear that you lost a son. I think that you know the right thing to do; it doesn't seem right to send the cremated remains to your ex, does it? Because you know whe intends to sprinkle them out onto the ground along with the others she has.
Of course you ought to see about getting interred properly the urn of ashes you possess; but, in all honesty, as Priest, I am really a whole lot less concerned about ashes and cremains than I am about your own personal practice of the Catholic Faith, etc.
Sorry to hear you have been away since high school... Maybe the time has come to go and make a good general confession, recieve absolution, get reconciled back to the Church, and start undertaking to practice and cherish that faith of your youth now so that when the end of your time in this world comes, you will be ready.
+ God bless you, and I wish you the very best in Christ Jesus, and in His Holy Catholic Church...
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
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