PORTLAND

The Diocese of Portland has announced that it has signed a management services contract with Catholic Management Services, a nonprofit organization specializing in providing strategic business planning and professional services to revitalize cemetery operations.

The diocese owns and operates two diocesan cemeteries — St. Peter’s Cemetery in Lewiston and Calvary Cemetery in South Portland — and more than 75 parish cemeteries. All cemeteries will continue to be owned by the diocese, and cemetery staff will remain employees of the diocese but will be under the supervision of CMS. The diocese will establish a new diocesan cemetery organization through which CMS will initially manage the two diocesan cemeteries and three parish cemeteries. For the past several months, CMS has been providing an interim cemetery manager at Calvary Cemetery. As goals and budgets are developed in the coming months, a new director of cemeteries will be hired and trained.

“The diocese is excited to begin our partnership with Catholic Management Services,” said David Twomey, the chief financial officer for the diocese. “Our dedicated staff members will benefit from the expertise and resources of CMS as we discover new ways to better serve the Catholic community through our cemetery ministry.”