About Us

From Donum Vitae, “Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation Replies to Certain Questions of the Day.” – February 22, 1987. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

5.I.1. WHAT RESPECT IS DUE TO THE HUMAN EMBRYO, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT HIS NATURE AND IDENTITY?

The human being must be respected – as a person – from the very first moment of his existence.

Sacred Heart Guardians and Shelter (“SHG,” dba “Sacred Heart Guardians”) is a charitable organization which provides Christian burial for deceased embryonic human beings. SHG is a volunteer operated organization funded by private donations. The executive director is a lay person striving to carry out SHG’s mission in faithfulness to the teachings of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.

Timeline

2017

  • Organization is incorporated in Minnesota as “Sacred Heart Guardians and Shelter.”
  • IRS grants Sacred Heart Guardians and Shelter a tax exempt 501(c)(3) status.
  • SHG conducts its first postcard campaign to IVF labs, offering burial as an alternative to waste disposal.

2018

  • The National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC) publishes an article by Laura Elm: “Embryo Mortality and In Vitro Fertilization.”
  • August 4, 2018: SHG’s first burial for deceased IVF embryos. SHG receives the remains of 17 embryos and facilitates their burial through the fetal remains service for miscarried children conducted by The Catholic Cemeteries. SHG is forever grateful to The Catholic Cemeteries for its support, guidance, and encouragement of our mission. SHG’s first seven burials (8/4/2018 to 2/1/2020) were facilitated through The Catholic Cemeteries at Resurrection Cemetery (Mendota Heights, MN).
  • November 3, 2018: SHG’s 2nd burial for deceased IVF embryos.

2019

2020

  • SHG facilitates four embryo remains burials.
  • May 5, 2020: SHG burials move from Resurrection Cemetery to Epiphany Catholic Cemetery (Coon Rapids, MN). In order to support the unique needs of families who have lost children through the IVF lab process, SHG moves from facilitating burial through a fetal remains service to holding burials on its own. The cemetery staff, pastoral leadership, and respect life group at Epiphany Catholic Church have been tremendously loving in their care for these special children and their families. SHG is grateful to Epiphany for allowing us to hold these burials at their parish cemetery.

2021

  • SHG facilitates four embryo remains burials.
  • Laura Elm awarded the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’s 2021 St. John Paul II Champions for Life award for the work of Sacred Heart Guardians and Shelter.

2022

  • SHG facilitates four embryo remains burials.

2023

  • Assumed name of “Sacred Heart Guardians” filed with the MN Secretary of State.
  • SHG facilitates two embryo remains burials. Since its first burial in 2018, SHG has facilitated burial for 1,124 deceased IVF embryonic children (as of 5/3/23).
  • Two burials are scheduled for 8/1/23 and 11/TBD/23.
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