Columbarium and Memorial Garden

A Columbarium is a place for the respectful storage of cinerary urns (ie urns holding a deceased cremated remains.) The term comes from the Latin columba (dove) and originally referred to compartmentalized housing for doves. Doves are often seen as a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

The Brighton Catholic Parish has erected a Columbarium adjacent to St Joseph's Church in response to parishioners' requests that such a place of respectul and peaceful interment and immurement of remains be available for parishioners and loved ones.

It is the desire of the Parish Priest and Parish Pastoral Council that this facility be made available in perpetuity in the grounds of St Joseph's Church so that the memories of deceased parishioners will be always present, and that they remain as part of our whole local catholic community - the faithful on earth, the faithful departed and the saints in heaven.

The Columbarium is the resting place of the ashes of many faithful departed. It is located on the eastern side of St Joseph's Church, Strathmore Tce, Brighton. There are three walls each containing 32 niches. Walls are numbered from left to right and top to bottom consecutively 1 - 32 (8 rows.)

Parishioners may wish to organize the reservation of a niche or garden plots prior to the time of a funeral. We can assist in this regard by advising availability of niches or garden plots to your requirements even many years before a prospective funeral.

Remains can be either:

• Immured in one of the Memorial Walls. The covering plate (165mm x 165mm) will bear the details of the deceased. (See fee 1 below.)
• Interred into the Garden adjacent to the walls. A plaque (145mm x 127mm) will be placed on the garden border. (See fee 2 below.)

If a parishioner wishes to place a plaque on the memorial wall without remains being present (as is the case when relatives die overseas or interstate) this may be done. A plaque (137mm x 102mm) bearing the details of the deceased will be placed on the end part of a Memorial Wall. (See fee 3 below.)

The cast bronze plaques placed on the Columbarium wall and the garden borders shall be solely supplied and affixed in position by the Brighton Catholic Parish. The cost of the plaque and installation is in addition to the fees outlined and is payable at the time of installation. Plaques once fixed into position are unable to be removed. The plaques take approximately 3 weeks for completion and placement.

A detailed policy and agreement outlining terms and conditions is available upon request, from the Parish Office.

Arrangements for the use of the facility are to be made by contact through the Parish Office.

FEES - February 2017

These fees include the care, maintenance and administration of the Memorial Garden and Walls.

The cost of the plaque and installation is not included in these fees but is payable at the current market price at the time of installation.

1. Immurement of cremated remains $2,000.00 + plaque
2. Interment of Ashes in the garden $1,000.00 + plaque
3. Placement of plaque of person whose remains are elsewhere $220.00 + plaque
4. Reservations in the case of spouse/ partner or family member:
   Immurement $2,000.00
   Internment $1,000.00

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