Robert Seelig
Robert Seelig is the founder and CEO of Alba Ministries, the new national name of Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services. Alba is a Catholic apostolate that partners with dioceses across the United States to care for the dead and those who grieve. The name means dawn, a reference to the first light of the Resurrection.
He leads Alba on a vision he describes as the Church helping the Church: dioceses strengthening their funeral and cemetery ministry together, rather than each building it alone.
He began his Church career in 2002 as Director of Cemeteries for the Diocese of Oakland. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Loyola Marymount University.
Writing
- The Catholic Church, disposing of human remains and Shark Tank (OSV News, 2024)
Interviews
- Chaplet / Proper Respect for Human Remains (Relevant Radio, 2024)
- The Disposability of Human Life & Human Remains in Today's Society (EWTN News Nightly, 2024)
- USCCB Speaks Out Against New Burial Methods, Such as Human Composting (EWTN News Nightly, 2023)
- Ep. 82 Dr. David Prentice on COVID Vaccines & Robert Seelig on Caring for the Dead (The Catholic Association, 2020)
- Robert Seelig on Driving Home the Faith: Radio Interview Excerpt (Driving Home the Faith, 2020)
- Honoring those who have died while funeral Masses are suspended (EWTN News Nightly, 2020)
- CFCS: Why Be Buried in a Catholic Cemetery? (Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services, 2017)
In the press
- The Days of the Graveyard May Be Numbered (The Wall Street Journal, 2026)
- Understanding Catholic Funeral Rites (The Catholic Echo, 2024)
- Archdiocese inters remains of hundreds of unknown crime victims (Aleteia, 2022)
- Rest for the weary: How Catholic funeral, cemetery staff embraced grieving families (Detroit Catholic, 2021)
- Catholic cemeteries now home to East Bay vineyards (Marin Independent Journal, 2016)
- Catholic cemeteries strike innovative deal with union (National Catholic Reporter, 2014)
- Church plants vineyard in cemetery (Reuters, 2007)
- Diocese seeks Hayward’s OK after building crematorium (East Bay Times, 2007)
- Grapes paired with graves (The Washington Times, 2007)
- Cemetery vines to holy wine (Los Angeles Times, 2007)
- Unfiltered (Wine Spectator, 2006)
- Hayward cemetery going Napa (East Bay Times, 2006)
- Oakland Diocese purchases mortuary (East Bay Times, 2006)