Guidelines for our Parish Cemeteries
Please remember the following guidelines for our parish cemeteries:

• No borders or edging of any kind around headstones, markers or grave.
• No landscape stone, bricks, pavers, bark mulch, curbing or decorative rocks permitted.
• No shepherd’s hooks (regardless of height)
• No metal (garden) decorations
• No toys, stuffed animals or balloons
• No solar lights, candles, and/or solar powered decorations of any kind.
• No items made of glass or porcelain (i.e. vases and statutes)
• Do not plant flowers or insert artificial flowers directly in the ground
• No shrubs, bushes, or perennial flowers
• No statues unless they are a permanent part of an upright monument/headstone

As maintenance costs for our cemeteries continue to increase annually, we must enforce these rules to preserve precious perpetual care funds set aside to pay for these expenses. All catholic cemeteries throughout the diocese have adopted similar practices for the reasons stated above and to prevent injury to our parishioners as a result of inappropriate decorations. For a complete list of rules and regulations for St. Augustine, Holy Family, St. Mary, St. Denis and St. Joseph cemeteries please see below.

Associated with the reverence shown for our departed loved ones are policies dealing with the decoration and use of their graves.
 
Our parish cemeteries: St. Augustine, Holy Family, St. Mary, St. Denis and St. Joseph are governed by rules and regulations established by St. Michael Parish and the Diocese of Portland for all Catholic Cemeteries in the State of Maine. They are a reflection of the respect we give our deceased and in a manner that is compatible with good cemetery practices.
 
Along with the Diocesan rules, we emphasize the adopted policies as outlined below.
 

• Lawns: Grass areas may not be obstructed by the planting of live shrubs or flowers directly into the ground.

• Fencing and Edging: Borders or hedging of any kind will not be allowed around the plot or grave. Landscape stones, bricks, pavers, mulches, coping, curbing, decorative rocks and enclosures are not permitted.

• Urns and Vases: Suitable containers for potted plants or artificial flowers may be placed at either end of permanent monuments. Permanent vases can be used on upright headstones and are strongly discouraged on flat grass markers.

• Ornaments and decorations: The following is a list of items that are not permitted in the cemetery:
  • Shepherd’s Hooks
  • Stand up decorations
  • Toys and stuffed animals
  • Solar lights or vigil lights
  • Items made of glass and porcelain are prohibited (i.e. vases and statues)
  • No decorations of any type are permitted in trees or cemetery plantings

• Flags and Special Decorations: Flags and appropriate arrangements may be placed at either end of monuments for all national holidays, and may remain for two weeks following. The Management reserves the right to remove those decorations when it deems appropriate. Removed articles are at owner’s risk.

• Flowers: The use of real flowers is encouraged as opposed to artificial flowers. All flowers (except those planted directly in a cement urn) and decorations will be removed two weeks after Memorial Day.

• Statues: Only statues that are permanent part of a cemetery monument/headstone are permitted. For liability reasons this should be done by a professional to insure that the statues is permanently attached and will not cause injury or harm should it fall.

 
The Cemetery reserves the right to remove all flowers, wreaths and other decorations from lots as soon as they become unsightly. The grounds will be cleared of decorations twice a year during Spring and Fall cleanup. In order for a family to save any decorations placed on a grave, the decorations/flowers should be removed prior to the cleanup. Dates will be announced in the parish bulletin and on the parish website prior to the Spring and Fall cleanup.
 
The Cemetery shall have the right to remove all objects whose appearance and condition warrant removal and/or violate the Cemetery’s rules and regulations. The Cemetery also will not be liable for any flowers or decorations removed or lost by any cause.

61-65 Townsend Road, Augusta (1^st on right coming from Northern Ave. onto Townsend Rd.)

  (2^nd on left coming from Northern Ave. onto Townsend Rd.)

605 Western Avenue, Manchester (shortly on left after crossing town line from Augusta to Manchester, descending side of hill)

142 Winthrop Street, Augusta (go up Winthrop Street to last white house on the left, entrance is road immediately after the home. Cemetery is only the section from this road to next road up the hill, balance of cemetery is City owned)

46 Deane Street, Gardiner. This cemetery is from top of hill to bottom two arches. This separates from Oak Grove.

31 Plummer Street, Gardiner (This cemetery is section on left upon entering Oak Grove Cemetery to Danforth St., quite small.
 

298 Grand Army Road, Whitefield. (Cemetery to the left of church.)
 

300 Grand Army Road, Whitefield. (Rte 126 east about 3/10 of a mile from St. Denis Church)
 

Other videos are available at
catholicburialtraditions.org/video/