Christ the King Parish
Calvary Cemetery, Skowhegan, Maine
St. Sebastian Cemetery, Madison, Maine

CEMETERY RULES
Cemeteries are administered by Christ the King Parish. Cemeteries comply with all civil laws and ordinances of the State of Maine and the towns of Skowhegan and Madison and with all church laws, both universal and particular concerning the burial of the dead.

GRAVE SITES & LOTS
1. Grave site or burial permits will be issued upon payment of the established fees and shall constitute an easement of burial of designated person or persons and not a legal transfer of ownership. Issuance of the permit assures the person to whom it is issued that no one may be buried therein without his or her consent of their heirs.
2. In acquiring the permit, the purchaser agrees to comply with all rules and regulations governing the setting of grave markers and monuments, the care and decoration of graves, and all other rules and regulations.

MARKERS & MONUMENTS
1. All markers and monuments require the completion of request form prior to installation. Only those markers/monuments in harmony with the general appearance of the cemetery shall be approved. Excessive display, unusually large sizes, or other departures from the prevailing customs in markers or monuments are discouraged.
2. Irreverent, sacrilegious, or profane symbols or wordings are forbidden.
3.Upright monuments and angle-faced monuments shall have a concrete base just below surface level.
4. Flat foot markers and headstones do not require a concrete base. They are to be positioned flush to the ground surface level.
5. Corner posts are discouraged. If installed, they must be positioned flush to the ground level.
6. Markers and monuments shall be placed and aligned with others in the same row.
7. Headstones will be set just above the head of a grave or grave combination. Foot markers will be set over the foot of the grave.
8. A foot marker may be substituted for a headstone and may be located in the headstone position. A headstone may never be located in the foot marker position.
9. Fences are not permitted around lots or grave sites.

PERPETUAL CARE OF GRAVES
A. Christ the King Parish reserves the right and assumes responsibility for caring for the whole cemetery, including the grave sites. This is funded by Perpetual Care. This includes:
1. Initial grading and regrading of graves.
2. Initial seeding and reseeding with lawn grass.
3. Mowing the grass and trimming around monuments as needed.
B. All work performed in the cemetery will be done only by the contracted caretakers.

GENERAL RULES
1. Vehicles must always remain on the roadway. Vehicles must not drive or park on the grass. Vehicles are not to exceed 10 miles per hour inside cemetery property.
2. All-terrain vehicles, dune buggies, snowmobiles, motor bikes, any type of driven vehicle – registered or unregistered – are prohibited from operating within the cemetery.
3. Providers of vaults, monuments and headstones shall be permitted the use of such motor vehicles and other equipment as may be necessary to accomplish their work and are subject to liability for any damages which may occur in such work.
4. Consumption of alcoholic beverages, non-prescriptive drugs, and illegal substances is prohibited.
5. The use or possession of firearms, except as part of a military burial, is prohibited.
6. All refuse, unsightly flowers, wreaths, and other grave decorations shall be disposed of in the receptacles provided for such purposes. Littering is prohibited.
7. The cemetery is not responsible for damage to any memorial, monument, decorations, or theft thereof, occurring as a result of malicious mischief or vandalism.

FLOWERS, DECORATIONS, & ORNAMENTS for GRAVES & MONUMENTS

To allow for proper care and maintenance of cemetery grounds and to provide for the safety of visitors, cemetery staff and property, our insurance requires the following.

A. Items Permitted in the Cemetery:
1. Flowers/decorations firmly mounted on headstones or monument bases.
2. Small military, American or decorative flags if placed in approved metal holders/hangers and inserted in the ground immediately on either side of the monument base.
3. Military/American flags for Memorial Day may be inserted in the ground immediately in front of the monument base and must be removed by the owner within two weeks following Memorial Day.

B. Items Not Permitted in the Cemetery:
1. Flowers/decorations not securely fastened to the headstone or monument base.
2. Shepherd’s hooks or other plant hangers.
3. Personal trees, shrubs, plants, or flowers planted on the cemetery grounds.
4. Landscaping materials such as crushed rock, mulch, brick, fencing, etc. or any other item that can cause injury or harm.
5. Christmas trees, ornaments, statues, lawn decorations, toys, and solar lights.
6. Items that are inappropriate or may endanger visitors or the attendant.

**No items should be placed on the ground. All items should be secured to the top of the headstone or the base that supports it.**

Without notice to the easement holder, the Parish reserves the right to remove and dispose of any memorials or decorations that are unsightly, damaged, or violate guidelines.

C. Removal of Flowers/Decorations:
1. All Military/American flags placed for Memorial Day must be removed by the owner within two weeks following Memorial Day.
2. Please remove all flowers/decorations by October 15th and dispose of them in the proper trash receptacles provided. All that remain after October 15th will be disposed of by the attendant.

Christ the King Parish Cemeteries opens mid-May and closes for the winter in early December.

Contact: Christ the King Parish Office
207-474-2039
Rev. James L. Nadeau, Pastor