Prayer Garden & Columbarium
Q. Are there other options for memorializing within the garden?
A. The main columbarium will include endpanels specifically designed for the inscription
of names of deceased family members who
may be interred elsewhere. There will be
several other options for memorializing including (but not limited) to fountains, fence,
gates, benches, statues, trees, shrubs, flowers, irrigation system, and security lighting.
Some of these items may be tax deductible.
Benefactor donations are both welcome and
encouraged. Contact Tom Jones, Ext. #7 at
the parish office for additional information.
Corpus Christi Catholic Church
Lexington, SC
The proposed Corpus Christi Catholic Church Prayer
Garden will include provision for a Columbarium. The
location for this beautiful garden will be on
"consecrated ground" located immediately behind the
church, adjacent to our Blessed Mother's Grotto and
Stations of the Cross. This site will provide a reverential place of interment of cremated ashes in a garden
setting for visitation, remembrance and contemplative
prayer for the deceased.
2350 Augusta Highway
Lexington, South Carolina 29072
Phone: (803) 359-4391
Columbarium Committee Members
Jim Cahill
Front view of a typical columbarium unit .
Paul Donahue
JoDee Douda
Tom Jones
Gerry Prestia
Roger Stone
Many parishioners have asked questions about this
project, its purpose, and arrangements for its use.
The purpose of this brochure is to provide answers to
those frequently asked questions.
It is important to note that no parish funds and no
Sunday collections will be used for the columbarium.
Its construction and upkeep will come solely and
exclusively from the sale of the individual niches.
Corpus Christi Catholic Church must comply with all
regulations governing all aspects of the columbarium
as established by the Diocese of Charleston.
Q. What is a columbarium?
Q. How are ashes secured in the niche?
A. A columbarium is a structure comprised
of a series of niches (vaults) that accommodate urns containing the cremated remains
(also known as cremains) of the deceased.
A. Ashes are secured in an urn supplied
by the parishioner. Each niche is designed to
accommodate up to two urns that must fit in
within the dimensions described in the previous answer. The urn is placed in the niche of
your selection after the funeral rites.
Q. I thought Catholics could not be cremated, has that changed?
A. While cremation was once prohibited
by the church, current regulations provide for
it as an alternative to traditional earth or crypt
internment. Ashes must be treated with the
reverence due a body However, the Church
continues to discourage the scattering, or
division of ashes, or private storage, but rather interring them on consecrated ground.
Cremation is in harmony with the Church's
oft-repeated reminder that "dust thou art, and
unto dust thou shall return."
Q. How will the Corpus Christi columbarium be constructed?
A. Construction will be comprised entirely
of rugged granite which has proven to withstand decades of seasonal changes with
minimal maintenance. Individual niches (or
vaults) measuring 12" H x 12" W x 16" D are
capable of holding up to two urns or cremains. Each niche is covered with a granite
faceplate that will note the name and date of
birth and death of each person interred. No
other markers, decorations, or floral arrangements will be allowed on the faceplate.
Q. Are there regulations about who may be
interred in the Corpus Christi columbarium?
A. Present and former registered members
of any Catholic church of the Diocese of
Charleston, together with their immediate
families (including spouses {Catholic or nonCatholic}, siblings, parents, and the natural
adopted, step or foster children of members
of the Diocese), are eligible persons for the
privilege of licensing niches. The Columbarium is intended for the interment of the (noncomingled) cremated remains of Catholics
who are entitled to Christian burial according
to the rules and disciplines of the Roman
Catholic Church and the regulations of the
Bishop, and non-Catholic spouses of such
Catholics.
Q. How can a niche be selected?
A. A niche locator map and detailed rules
and regulations are available through any
member of the Columbarium Committee.
You may reserve one or more niches by filling
out the application form in the parish office. Upon completion of payment in full, the final niche
selection can be made and a niche
license
will be issued.
Q. When will the columbarium structure
be completed and available for interments?
A. Corpus Christi is required to comply
with all Diocesan columbarium requirements before construction can begin. To
meet these stipulations, the parish must
pre-sell the Diocese prescribed number of
niches. When that requirement is met,
work on the infrastructure and columbarium unit can begin. Estimated completion
time from that point is approximately five
(5) months.
Q. What is the cost of a niche and what
are the payment options?
A.
$3,500. - Cash payment in full for
one niche (up to double occupancy)
Q. What does the cost of the niche
include?
A. The cost listed above includes the
opening(s) and closing(s) as well are
the engraving(s) of the granite faceplate
with up to two names. This one-time
purchase also includes: the license, a
certificate indicating the location of the
selected niche(s), perpetual care, plus
policy and operating rules.