Stewardshipby Maria Dolores

CEREMONIAL STEWARDSHIP

Honoring life.

A ceremony is a way of telling a truthful story about life, and love.
It is helping us mark important life-events and navigate with intention in life.

Maria Dolores standing beside a casket adorned with roses, in a wood.

A reflection

The great transitions of a life - a birth and naming, a union, a farewell - deserve to be held with attention, so the ceremony can be experienced with presence.

For me Ceremonial stewardship is the work of holding grief, joy, or memory, and to be experienced without hurry. Over the years I have been present on over 1500 ceremonies, with all the different major world religions - Christian, Islam, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh and secular ceremonies.

The families I sit with are looking for dignity, and the reassurance that what matters will be honored.

— 01

Listening

Every ceremony begins with a good conversation, sometimes several, in which the essential story of the moment is gently uncovered.

— 02

The shape of the rite

Coordination with priest, imam, rabbi, munk or pujari.
If wished for, I prepare a ceremony arranged with care. I draw on tradition where it comforts.

— 03

Presence on the day

On the day itself, the work is done so that the family can be fully present with the ceremony.

The practical expression

Stewardship in practice

Ceremonies are taken on selectively, and always with time for proper preparation. This work is not accepted at short notice, except in cases of mourning and dolor.

  • Funerals & memorials

    Full stewardship of a funeral or memorial service, from the earliest conversations with the family through to the last guest leaving the wake.

  • Weddings & unions

    Weddings where the ceremony itself is the centre of the day. 

  • Private rites

    Naming ceremonies, remembrance gatherings and other private rituals a family wishes to mark thoughtfully.

In closing

What is honoured is not lost.
It is placed carefully where it can be found again.
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