St. Dominic Cemetery

St. Dominic Cemetery is a private Catholic cemetery owned by the Western Dominican Province. It is maintained as a place of burial for the Dominican fathers and brothers of the western United States, and various Dominican sisters. This cemetery is also available for the burial of members of the St. Dominic's Parish, benefactors of the province, and families of the Dominican friars. Advance purchase of plots or crypts may be arranged at the rectory by contacting Marie Earp.

Necrology

• The necrology of the province is the listing of the deceased friars.  In many cases we have photos, letters, and other historical documentation to share the riches of the lives of the friars that went before us.  You may visit this resource by clicking here.

History

• The friars were originally buried in the cloister next to St. Dominic Church in Benicia, CA, or perhaps on occasion elsewhere.  In priories around the world, the friars would be buried in their cloisters.  Each evening the friars would pray de Profundis (Psalm 130) for the deceased, usually while in their cloister walks with the deceased.  Today, this prayer is still prayed in common for the beloved deceased.  However, in most places, the deceased are no longer buried in the cloisters, they are buried in cemeteries like St. Dominic's Cemetery in Benicia.
   

• Cemetery opened in approximately 1894.
   

• Once the cemetery was completed, the deceased friars that preceded it were moved from the graveyard next to St. Dominic Church to the new location of St. Dominic Cemetery.  The Dominican Sisters of San Rafael (external link) in San Rafael, California also buried their deceased next to their church and moved their deceased sisters to St. Dominic Cemetery at the same time as the friars.  This Dominican community of sisters was founded at the same time as our province in 1850.
   

• The Oakford Dominican Sisters have eight reserved plots adjacent to the new circle.  These sisters lived with the friars at the seminary.  From their private quarters, they ministered in prayer and service, in part, to the friars in the house of formation for the Western Province (St. Albert Priory).  They have a special relationship with the friars and have since expanded to other ministries.
   

• Friar Francis Sadoc Vilarrasa y Costa bought a section of City Cemetery from Benicia Cemetery Corporation in 1864.  It was the original cemetery for the parish.
   

• All members of the Western Dominican Province are buried here with the exception of four memorialized at the obelisk-cross.
   

• The Western Dominican Province and Canada are thought to be the only provinces in the world where all the friars are buried in the same cemetery.  This is a wonderful benefit to the friars and the people of God who knew them.  When a friar dies there will be a rosary-wake, funeral Mass, and burial.  Friars will come from far and wide, if they are able, and many will gather for these services.  Coming back to St. Dominic's Cemetery in Benicia, CA for the burial is a time of closure and respect.  It is also something of a family reunion for the many friars, a time to visit the graves of past friends and reminisce of the lives of the friars that have gone before us.  The friars, being buried in chronological order, provide a stroll down one's own history with the deceased.  It can be inspiring and lifting to recall how these souls with God paved the way in faithfulness, built up the ministries of the province, and made countless sacrifices in their personal lives all for the people of God and ministry of Christ.   It is a time of grieving, but also a time of joy in the resurrection and hope of all things to come.

New Places of Interest

• 150th Memorial Tablet
  Located in the friars' old burial circle, left side.  Memorialized in 2002.
   

• Catherine of Siena Sector
  A new lawn, located on the west of the newest burial circle.
   

• Administration Center
  "Some-what" new.
   

• Pavilion
  Located in the Northeast sector for mausoleum and cremations.

Cemetery Contact Information

Directions East 5th at Hillcrest Avenue Benicia, CA  94510 Mailing PO Box 1642 Benicia, CA  94510 Contact Fr. Thomas Hayes, OP St. Dominic Cemetery 251 Oak Grove Avenue Menlo Park, CA  94025 Phone 707-751-0527

Map E 5th St At Hillcrest Ave Benicia, CA 94510 Driving Directions E 5th St At Hillcrest Ave Benicia, CA 94510

Site Map
Contact
Webmaster