Every child deserves a sacred farewell
Providing dignity and respect through proper burial for unclaimed children, honoring the corporal and spiritual works of mercy with compassion and grace.
Our Sacred Mission
"The Corporal and spiritual works of mercy ask us to pray for and bury the dead."
The church shows us a deep respect for the dignity of the body. The body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and because of our belief in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting, the final disposition of a person is a sacred matter.
It is our hope to bury cremated and unclaimed children who presently reside at a morgue, ensuring they receive the dignity and love they deserve.
How Our Journey Began
Spring 2004 - A Call to Compassion
It was in the spring of 2004 when Mary Rocco, a parishioner at Saint Bridget's in East Falls, died suddenly. She was a recluse for many years. With her death, her body was taken to the medical examiner. She had no family other than the cremains of her husband Joseph, who sat on top of the TV in a cardboard box in their Gypsy Lane apartment.
I contacted the Medical Examiner to arrange for her funeral. He said, "I had no authority to procure her body and bury her." My brother Joseph Kelly Esq. initiated the legal process for me to attain her body. This was done with the professional assistance of Ms. Joan McIlvane, funeral director.
Once secured, I announced the plans for a funeral mass for Mary and her husband Joseph to the parish. I explained that they had no family and it is a corporal and spiritual work of mercy to pray for and bury the dead. There were over 100 people in attendance at the funeral mass. The burial followed.
In my communications with the Medical Examiner, I discovered there are over 100 unclaimed babies at the city morgue. For many years now I have been trying to bury these babies. I have not been successful.
2020 - A Growing Need
The year of the pandemic, 2020, I discovered almost every funeral director has accumulated unclaimed cremains. There may be some children, but there are some that are veterans. It is my hope to embark upon praying for and burying these cremains. This is indeed the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
How You Can Help
Your generous support enables us to provide dignity and proper burial for unclaimed children, honoring their memory with love and compassion
Donate Online
Make a secure donation online with just a few clicks. Your contribution goes directly toward funding burial services and memorial ceremonies.
Donate Securely OnlineDonate by Check
Prefer to send a check? Mail your donation to our secure address. All donations are tax-deductible as we are a 501(c)(3) organization.
Mail checks payable to:
"Bury the Children"
Christ the King Rectory
3252 Chesterfield Rd
Philadelphia, PA 19114
Please include your return address for tax receipt purposes
How Your Donations Make a Difference
Burial Services
Funding proper burial plots, caskets, and memorial markers to ensure every child receives a dignified final resting place.
Memorial Ceremonies
Organizing meaningful funeral masses and memorial services where these precious souls are remembered and prayed for.
Legal Processes
Supporting the legal work required to secure custody of unclaimed remains from medical examiners and morgues.
Outreach Initiatives
Expanding our mission to reach more unclaimed children across different facilities and communities in need.
Every donation, no matter the size, helps us fulfill our sacred mission to ensure that no child is forgotten and every soul receives the dignity they deserve in their final rest.
Meet Our Compassionate Team
Dedicated souls committed to honoring the dignity of every child with love, respect, and unwavering compassion
Father John Kelly
Founder & Director
Fr. John Kelly was born in Philadelphia as the fifth of ten children and attended Saint Anne grade school, North Catholic High School, and Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John Graham on June 16, 1987. Fr. Kelly is the founder and creator of Bury the Children and remains deeply passionate about serving the Church through this important ministry.
Marie Ciglar
Director
Marie Ciglar serves on the Board of Directors of Bury the Babies and holds degrees in Theology and Psychology from Holy Family University with additional pastoral studies from Saint Charles Seminary. Her nearly 30-year career in Catholic education included roles as Director of Religious Education, high school theology teacher, school principal, and pastoral associate. Though now retired, Marie continues her volunteer work and brings deep personal commitment to supporting the organization's
Brandon Schmidt
Director
Brandon Schmidt is a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and a graduate of Archbishop Wood High School. He is passionate about participating in Bury the Children, which honors the remains of human life in accordance with Catholic teaching. Brandon sees this ministry as an opportunity to practice the corporal work of mercy of burying the dead for those who have been forgotten.
Liam Barnes
IT Director
Liam Barnes is an Information Technology graduate from Temple University with expertise in web development and business logistics systems. His technical skills span multiple areas of technology, enabling him to create effective digital solutions and streamline operational processes for organizations. Liam is passionate about leveraging his technological expertise to help others and contribute meaningfully to causes he believes in, bringing both technical proficiency and a service-oriented mindset to his work.
Darlene Marquette-Quinn
Legal Advisor
Darlene A. Marquette is an attorney admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey since 1987, with additional admissions to the U.S. District Courts for both the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the District of New Jersey. She earned her J.D. from Temple University School of Law in 1987 and her B.A. in English with a minor in Secondary Education from Beaver College (now Arcadia University) in 1984. Throughout her legal career, she has served as a law clerk for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, worked on the Pennsylvania Civil Rules Committee, and served as Staff Attorney for Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Russell M. Nigro, while also maintaining board memberships with the M. Patricia Caroll Memorial Fund and the Inns of Court.
Griffin Barnes
Financial Manager
Griffin Barnes holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance with a minor in Economics from Widener University. With a strong foundation in financial principles and economic insight, Griffin brings analytical acumen to every endeavor. Beyond professional achievements, Griffin is deeply motivated by a desire to be of service, centering life and work around empathy, humility, and the wellbeing of others.