Annual “All Souls Mass” offers free burials

Hundreds of people gathered outside Mount Carmel cemetery this morning for the annual “All Souls Mass”.

This year was the second year El Paso’s Catholic Diocese offered family members the opportunity to bury cremated loved ones’ urns free of charge.

Catholic doctrine no longer teaches that cremation is wrong, but the church does say all remains should be buried on sacred ground – even those that have been cremated.

Last year, when Bishop Mark Seitz first offered free burial for cremated remains, 102 urns were buried. This year, 52 urns were placed in individual grave sites at Mount Carmel cemetery.

ABC-7 spoke with Mount Carmel earlier today to find out the average cost for burying a loved ones ashes. It costs $770, and family members who buried their loved ones ashes today did not have to worry about any of that cost.

The cemetery is still unsure whether or not this opportunity will be offered again next year.