Final Arrangements

JUNE 2014 • PAGE 11 a r r a n g e m e n t s By Holli Moncrieff For the Free Press a local church is offering parishioners a respectful, affordable alternative to a cemetery burial. The St. Gianna Beretta Molla Roman Catholic Church began construction on the Living Waters Columbarium in December 2012. Housed in the lower level of the church, it's expected to open in July. "A columbarium is a cemetery for cremated remains," explains Monique Gauthier, the church's pastoral life coordinator and director of the Living Waters Columbarium. "We're quite excited to have it open. It's been a long time coming." Cremation used to be banned by the Catholic Church. It was viewed as a pagan practice and a denial of the doctrine of the resurrection. But in 1963, the ban on cremation was lifted, provided that the reasons for choosing cremation were not contrary to Christian belief. "We respect the dignity of life and the dignity of death. Cremated remains are to be treated the same way as buried remains if you respect and follow the teachings of the church," Gauthier says. "More and more people are choosing cremation instead of the traditional burial of the body." The burial directives call for the remains are to be placed in a worthy vessel, which is transported with the same respect and attention given to a casket. Once completed, the columbarium will have 2,700 niches for urns. Each niche may hold the remains of two people. There will also be four family chapels. "A lot of the interest so far is pre-need. It's a really wonderful opportunity to have these conversations with our community," she says. "Everyone has been quite supportive and excited as well." At the centre of the octagon-shaped columbarium, the waters of the baptismal font are illuminated as daylight pours through the waters of the font into the columbarium below. An atmosphere of reverence and dignity is further heightened with a series of stained glass windows. "Having the columbarium located within the community of our parish ensures that burial is within the context of a living and praying community, as the beloved dead are perpetually remembered in the community's prayer and worship. It's a really powerful theological statement," Gauthier says. "When we look at the special qualities of our own patron saint, it makes sense to have a columbarium here. Saint Gianna believed in protecting and honouring life in all stages." Gianna was a modern-day working mother and a physician. In the second month of her fourth pregnancy, a tumor was found in her uterus. Her doctors suggested abortion to save her life. They then discussed surgery as an option. Gianna told the doctors if they had to choose between saving her life and the life of her baby, they were to save the baby. On April 21, 1962, Gianna gave birth to her fourth child. One week later, she died in her home at the age of 39. Her last action in life was the selfless decision to choose the gift of life for her daughter, Gianna Emanuela. Gianna was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1994. "The columbarium is helping our parish carry out its mission. It's important for us to respect the dignity of life in all stages," Gauthier says. "We'll be serving members of the Catholic community and their families, including non- Catholic members." So far, almost 130 of the columbarium's niches have been sold. "We're in the very initial stages. It's very (financially) accessible to the community, which is one of the reasons cremation is becoming so popular," Gauthier says. She adds that it's unusual to have a columbarium housed within a church. "In the past, only people of great importance would be entombed within a church, so this is a wonderful opportunity because it's open to everyone," she says. "Those who have their remains housed in the church will become part of the prayers within our community." Director Monique Gauthier says the columbarium will open soon. Photo by Darcy Finley cOlUmBAriUm OFFErs UNiqUE FiNAl rEstiNG PlAcE We respect the dignity of life and the dignity of death. Cremated remains are to be treated the same way as buried remains if you respect and follow the teachings of the church.

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