Charitable Cremation Inurnment program
PROJECT LAZARUS
A Charitable Communal Ossuary Inurment Program
Project Lazarus is a charitable apostolate of Holy Family Cemetery created to provide the dignified, permanent interment of cremated human remains for individuals whose families or responsible parties lack the financial means to provide burial in consecrated ground. This program reflects our belief that every person deserves reverence in death, prayerful remembrance, and a final resting place marked by dignity and compassion.
At Holy Family Cemetery, we recognize that some families face overwhelming hardship after the loss of a loved one. Project Lazarus exists to respond to that need with mercy, while preserving the sacred character of Christian burial and the orderly administration of the cemetery. Participation in the program is charitable, discretionary, and intended only for those who genuinely qualify.
A project funded and sponsored by the Imperial Calcasieu Delegation of the Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem.
SUPPORT PROJECT LAZARUS
Donation Opportunities
Project Lazarus is a charitable burial initiative of Holy Family Cemetery dedicated to ensuring that no person is denied a dignified and reverent burial due to financial hardship. Through this program, cremated remains entrusted to our care are interred in a communal ossuary within sacred ground. By partnering with Project Lazarus, local funeral homes, families, and community supporters help provide permanent and respectful interment for those who might otherwise go unburied.
Our current goal is to raise $15,000 to support the continued operation and expansion of this apostolate.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Resurrection Partner — $2,500
Recognition as a Founding Resurrection Partner, including:
- Company logo prominently engraved in the communal ossuary (4″ x 6″)
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Permanent Project Lazarus donor recognition
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Certificate of charitable partnership suitable for display
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Acknowledgment in Project Lazarus publications and community materials
Just six Resurrection Partners will fully fund the annual goal.
Works of Mercy Contributor — $1,000
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Directly funds individual charitable burials
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Donor acknowledgment certificate
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Listing among Project Lazarus supporters
- Name of business listed on Project Lazarus Works of Mercy Supports on ossuary
Compassion Partner — $500
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Helps cover memorialization and interment costs
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Donor acknowledgment letter
- One line “In memory/honor of” inscribed on ossuary
In Memory or In Honor Gifts – $100
Donations may also be made:
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In memory of a loved one
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In honor of a funeral home founder, director, or staff member
Recognition will be provided upon request.
Tax Acknowledgment
Project Lazarus operates as a charitable burial ministry of Holy Family Cemetery. Contributions are charitable gifts and will be acknowledged in writing.
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No goods or services are provided in exchange for donations.
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Contributions are intended to be tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
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Donors are encouraged to consult their tax advisor regarding deductibility.
Help Us Provide Dignity in Death
Every person deserves to be laid to rest with dignity. Your support ensures that those who cannot afford burial are still remembered, honored, and entrusted to sacred ground.
Together, we can ensure that every person entrusted to our care receives dignified and permanent interment.
Who the Program Serves
Project Lazarus is designed for the interment of cremated remains when private burial in consecrated ground is otherwise impossible because of financial hardship. To be considered, the remains must be those of one identifiable individual, lawfully released for final disposition, and there must be no available grave, crypt, niche, or other previously purchased burial space that can be used for interment. The packet also states that at least twelve months must have elapsed between the decedent’s death and the upcoming interment date, and that the decedent must have been a resident of Iberia Parish at the time of death.
An Apostolate of Dignity and Mercy
Project Lazarus is not a commercial burial option. It is a work of mercy. The program is meant to assist families who truly have no practical means to provide permanent burial and who seek a respectful, faith-filled final disposition for their loved one. The cemetery reviews each request carefully in order to preserve the charitable nature of the program, prevent misuse, and ensure fairness and consistency in its administration.
Eligibility and Documentation
Because this is a hardship-based program, applicants must provide documentation showing genuine financial need. The packet allows verification through public assistance documentation, written certification from clergy, a funeral director, social worker, hospice provider, or charitable representative, or a notarized affidavit of hardship from the legal next of kin or authorized representative. Applications may be submitted only by the legal next of kin, a court-appointed representative, a licensed funeral director acting with written authorization, or clergy assisting the family. Proof of authority to direct final disposition is required.
Important Program Terms
Interment through Project Lazarus is permanent. The forms packet explains that participation in the communal ossuary creates no ownership, inheritance, or exclusive burial rights, and that the remains may not later be removed, reclaimed, transferred, or converted into a private interment. Internal cemetery records of the burial will be maintained. Families may also have the option to purchase an “In Memory Of” plaque, subject to the terms of the program.
Cemetery Review and Discretion
All applications are reviewed by Holy Family Cemetery, and the Cemetery Authority retains sole discretion to request additional documentation, refer an application for further review, approve, defer, or deny a request, and grant exceptions in extraordinary pastoral or humanitarian circumstances. Approval under Project Lazarus does not establish precedent and does not guarantee future acceptance for other applicants.
Cemetery Review and Discretion
All applications are reviewed by Holy Family Cemetery, and the Cemetery Authority retains sole discretion to request additional documentation, refer an application for further review, approve, defer, or deny a request, and grant exceptions in extraordinary pastoral or humanitarian circumstances. Approval under Project Lazarus does not establish precedent and does not guarantee future acceptance for other applicants.
How to Apply
Families or responsible parties seeking assistance through Project Lazarus should complete the required application materials and provide all supporting documentation. Incomplete, misleading, or false information may result in denial or revocation of eligibility. Because this program is intended to serve those with true need, every application is reviewed with care, seriousness, and respect for both the deceased and the integrity of the ministry.
Contact Us
For more information about Project Lazarus, eligibility, or application procedures, please contact:
Holy Family Cemetery
2807 N. Curtis Lane
New Iberia, Louisiana 70560
337-364-1663
office@holyfamilycemetery.org
We will be honored to speak with you confidentially and compassionately about whether this program may be available for your family.