Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

- John 11: 25 - 26

In the next 2 - 3 years, St. Catherine of Siena will build a columbarium in the green space next to the Church.  The original plan was to build the columbarium in the basement of the Church, but after consulting with our contractor, it was decided it was best to be located next to the Church.  The new columbarium will be comprised of over 2,000 niches.  This project is still in the early stages of development.  Below is some general information about columbariums and cremation.  More information will be coming soon! 

What is a columbarium?

A columbarium is a group of niches, typically within a wall of granite or marble, that contains the cremated remains of the departed in a “worthy vessel.”  At Saint Catherine’s, the columbarium will be located in the basement of the church and will be accessible from the north and east side of the Church.   It will be comprised of over 2,000 niches.  Each niche will be able to accommodate two to four urns, depending on the size of the urns.

May Catholics be cremated? 

Yes.  In May 1963, the Vatican's Holy Office (now the Dicastery of the Doctrine of Faith) lifted the prohibition forbidding Catholics to choose cremation.  This permission was incorporated into the revised Code of Canon Law of 1983 (Canon # 1176), as well as into the Order of Christian Funerals.  It then became standard practice to celebrate the funeral liturgies with the body and then take the body to the crematorium.  The bishops of the United States and Holy See have now authorized the celebration of a Catholic funeral liturgy with the cremated remains when the body is cremated before the funeral.

Why have a columbarium?

The Church property has traditionally been the natural repository and final resting place of deceased members of the Christian community.  Burial within the church itself or in the adjacent churchyard was once common practice.  The amount of land necessary for a burial ground is no longer available to most churches and a myriad of laws and regulations make it extremely difficult to establish a burial site.  In recent years, cremation with interment of the cremated remains, rather than burial, has become more common.  In addition, many people are turning to cremation as an economical, dignified way to address the rising cost of funerals.  In this way, the remains of the deceased can reside at the church that played such an important part in his/her life.  

Who can be interred?

Only human remains may be interred; no animal remains may be interred.  More information about who can purchase niches will be available later. 

Interested in a Niche at SCS?

If you are interested in learning more information about the niches at SCS, please COMPLETE THIS FORM.  Once more details are available, we will reach out with more information.