BRIDGE JOURNEY

for the

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 VOLUME I, ISSUE IX A L i v i n g W a t e r s C o l u m b a r i u m P u b l i c a t i o n

Living our Christian discipleship in the world today is an enormous challenge. We are constantly confronted with all kinds of options that might be contrary to our Christian values and beliefs. Sadly, the time of death is no exception. Looking after a loved one’s funeral arrangements can be a very confusing experience. Every decision, including the interment of the person’s remains, can be overwhelming when we are feeling vulnerable and unprepared. Sometimes these feelings result in decisions being postponed, particularly those relating to burial or entombment. As a response to the growing trend of postponing our final farewells, this issue of Bridge for the Journey explores the need to close the gap between the celebration of the funeral mass and the interment. In doing so, we learn what it means to bring the dignity of life and death into one.

Monique Gauthier

OPEN HOUSE

SUNDAY APRIL 8, 2018

12:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Honouring Life in the Catholic Tradition

Closing the Gap between the Funeral Mass and the Interment - why we should not postpone our final farewell

‘Private interment to follow at a later date’… It is a common phrase in many obituary notices today, and a growing reality as cremation rates steadily increase in our province and throughout the world. More and more, families are waiting weeks, months and even years before interring their loved one’s remains. Some postpone the interment hoping to create a ‘more meaningful’ celebration, by waiting for a particular time of year, a date that holds special memory, or a month when the family might be able to gather. Others postpone because of indecision, financial issues, family disputes or a desire to keep the remains of the deceased nearby. From the griever’s perspective, keeping a loved one’s urn at home might be perceived as a means of comfort and a way to maintain the presence of the deceased. However, holding on to a loved ones’ remains, whether temporarily or indefinitely, often becomes an increased source of emptiness, as the remains are a constant reminder of the great sadness held inside. Ultimately, the distance between the funeral mass and the interment leaves the ritual celebration incomplete, and the bereaved in an awkward place spiritually and emotionally.

We all struggle with saying goodbye, but it is through the act of letting go that we find peace and comfort. Transporting a loved one’s cremated remains to the cemetery or columbarium serves as a bridge between the rituals celebrated in the church and the Rite of Committal, now celebrated in the cemetery. Our Catholic faith teaches us that “life is changed, not ended’, when death occurs. Relinquishing a loved one’s mortal remains to their final resting place is an

expression of our Christian hope and consolation, a proclamation of our belief in the Resurrection of Jesus. Although we have physically lost our loved one, he or she is still very much present to us, and letting go of our attachment to the person’s physical remains enables us to reach through the sadness of our loss to a new level of relationship with the deceased. While it graphically marks the end of the human relationship now severed by death, the Rite of Committal blends the realities of grieving and saying farewell into one integral act of faith. When the committal is celebrated in a timely manner after the Mass of Christian Burial, it serves as a meaningful continuation of the funeral liturgy. It not only

A private family interment will be held at a later date.

The entombment will be held in the Spring of next year.

The interment will take place at a later date.

Interment to follow at a later date.

In the Instruction released in 2016 on the treatment of cremated remains, Pope Francis emphasizes the need to entomb or bury cremated remains in a consecrated place, with a grave marked with the person’s name. In this way, members of the Christian community can visit and pray for the deceased, confident that the beloved dead now dwells in God. As a Catholic cemetery, Living Waters Columbarium serves as a bridge between the community of the living and the community of the deceased. It is a place of consolation, hope, love and life.

Testimonials

Losing a child is the most painful and unbearable experience a mother can possibly imagine. I know because I am living this experience. My youngest son, Archie, died of acute myeloid leukemia at the age of 22, on April 9, 2016… I know Archie is happy that I chose Living Waters Columbarium. It is the perfect

place, where the members of the community sing, pray and celebrate mass. It is a community of active, vibrant servants of our Lord, just like Archie, a community of faithful disciples of Jesus. The columbarium is also a special place for my family and me. It is very peaceful; it is a place of healing, a place where I can cry quietly, pray silently, talk with my son in my heart and whisper to him, "I miss you so much Archie, Mommy loves you so much. Pray for us now that

you are in heaven, happily in the loving arms of God.”

- Zenaida Umbal Parishioner of St. John Cantius Church

As soon as I entered the columbarium, I felt a sense of comfort and a ‘lightening’ of my pain. I

instantly felt that this place is sacred, safe and peaceful. It means so much to us knowing that we can visit Jaycob every time we come to church. We are so grateful for this wonderful place!

- Josie Acaya Parishioner of St. Mary’s Cathedral

It gives me solace and contentment knowing that Mom was laid to rest near her brother, Edward, in the Buchel Family Chapel, in the church she loved and served. The added memorial inscription of my dad’s name on Mom’s niche door is a reminder

Living Waters Columbarium - an experience of Christian hope

celebrates the passage of a loved one from their earthly pilgrimage to Eternity, but also strengthens the faith of those left behind.

The Catholic cemetery or columbarium distinguishes itself as a ministry that extends the

saving and healing ministry of Christ. Visiting the resting place of a loved one’s mortal remains in a cemetery or columbarium, surrounded by the visible signs of our faith and belief in the Resurrection, becomes a source

of strength and comfort, as we long to be reunited with our loved ones in Heaven.

- Monique Gauthier Director of Sales, Promotions & Marketing for Living Waters Columbarium

that he is near in spirit and remembered in prayer. The peace I feel in the columbarium, from the life-giving waters of baptism and the beauty of the flowers, helps connect me to what brought my mom joy. The baptismal font and the columbarium remind me of the Christian’s journey of faith - from birth to resurrection.

- Norma Tombs Parishioner of St. Gianna’s Church

The opportunity for Ed’s remains to be placed in ‘our’ columbarium, and within the Buchel Family Chapel, where our family can visit often, is a gift beyond belief. There is comfort in knowing that many of our family members will be laid to rest together here, in an environment of ongoing prayer and faith. The columbarium also offers our children, their children and future generations the opportunity to have a special place to remember and give thanks for the lives of each one of our deceased loved ones.

For me, the columbarium has proven to be a place to pray, to remember the love Ed and I shared, to simply rest, and sometimes to cry a healing cry.

It is a place where one comes closer to the understanding that death is just the gateway to something more wonderful. The time I have spent in the columbarium has certainly strengthened me.

- Christine Buchel Parishioner of St. Gianna’s Church

When my father, Danilo L. Vicente, passed away last July, our family was filled with grief and at the same time overwhelmed with all the planning and decision making for his funeral services and entombment. For a time I had hoped he could stay home and not be entombed at all so that he could always be “with us”. It was after Father Geoffrey introduced to us Living Waters Columbarium and enlightened me about the spiritual and emotional significance of entombment that I found peace

and contentment in letting go and in full submission of my father to God. The first time we visited the columbarium, I knew this was where he would want to be. My father was a religious man; he was a member of many church organizations and sang fervently in church choirs. He was a dedicated and passionate servant of God and His church. I am now at peace knowing that we found a perfect place for my father - this is the least we can do for his selfless love and the sacrifices he has made for our family. A forever grateful daughter...

- Jennifer Licardo Parishioner of St. Mary’s Cathedral

Honouring Life in the Catholic Tradition

The rite of committal is meant to assist the family and close friends in this difficult moment of letting go. A reluctance to dispose of the cremated remains of the deceased does not seem to be consistent with facing death through to its harsh end of leave-taking, of handing on to a communion beyond ourselves and our private relationships with the deceased. Nor does such reluctance give witness to a Christian understanding that in death, relationships as we have know them are ended. We have a liturgical rite that marks this ending, and which, in the midst of a community of faith, assists those who mourn to “face the end of one relationship with the deceased and begin to take up a new one based on prayerful remembrance, gratitude and the hope of resurrection and reunion”. (OCF) A Christian response to death does not seek hope in hanging on to the deceased, nor in the comfort of permanent reminders of the place which the deceased once held in our lives. The completion of our care for the dead asks for an act which commits the remains of our deceased to a sacred resting place. In doing this, “the community expresses a hope that, with all those who have gone before marked with the sign of faith, the deceased awaits the glory of the resurrection.” (OFC)

Nieves Bautista Bernardo

August 5, 1920 - February 5, 2002 PARANAQUE CATHOLIC CEMETERY, PHL

Aquilina ‘Lina’ Faustino

June 13, 1948 - February 1, 2018

B.J. Woods

August 31, 2017

Recently Entombed / Memorialized in Living Waters Columbarium...

Arsenio Santos Bernardo Sr.

June 11, 1913 - November 6, 1996 PARANAQUE CATHOLIC CEMETERY, PHL

Facing Death Together - by Margaret Smith

The practice of lighting candles has its origins in the custom of burning lights at the tombs of the martyrs in the catacombs. The lights burned as a sign of solidarity with Christians still on earth.  Because the lights continually burned as a silent vigil, they became known as vigil lights.

Living Waters Columbarium is pleased to introduce vigil candles in memory of the beloved deceased entombed or memorialized in the columbarium. The candles burn for 7 days, holding vigil for our beloved deceased.

In the lighting of candles, our prayers become symbols of the One Light of Christ. They rise up to Heaven day and night, in the presence of our beloved deceased, whom we know and love in mystery.

Each vigil candle is accompanied by a photo of the deceased for whom it is lit. Candles can be ordered one week at a time or for an entire year.

A portion of the proceeds from the vigil candle sales are directed to the Living Waters Columbarium Grain of Wheat Legacy Fund to support apostolic efforts in our local community and throughout the world.

Be it a birthday, an anniversary, or any day in between, flowers are an expression of our love and care for one another.

Living Waters Columbarium is pleased to introduce a year-long floral program to commemorate the days you hold dear with your beloved deceased.

A variety of individual flowers with greens will be placed on your loved one’s niche door to mark the special days and anniversaries you wish to commemorate.

Choose from three different options: Option One: 4 flowers Option Two: 8 flowers Option Three: 12 flowers

Packages include the seasonal maintenance, care and mounting of specially designed niche vases, as well as the ordering, delivery and care of a different flower with greens on each of your selected dates.

A portion of the proceeds from the niche door flower sales are directed to the Living Waters Columbarium Grain of Wheat Legacy Fund to support charitable efforts in our local community and throughout the world.

Light in Our Darkness - 7 Day Vigil Candles at Living Waters Columbarium

Love Never Dies - Year Long Niche Door Flowers for Our Beloved Deceased

Honouring Life in the Catholic Tradition

Almighty God and Father,

by the mystery of the cross,

you have made us strong;

by the sacrament of the resurrection,

you have sealed us as your own.

Look kindly upon your servants,

now freed from the bonds of mortality,

and count them among your saints in heaven.

Through Christ our Lord,

Amen.

- Book of Blessings

Our New Visiting Hours We are pleased to offer extended weekday visiting hours in the columbarium that now include Thursday evenings. Please see our complete visiting hours below.

Daytime Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. *Holidays not applicable

Evening Tuesday & Thursday 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Weekends Saturday 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Sunday 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm.

KnightsColumbus

Contact Monique Gauthier Director of Sales, Marketing and Promotion

Living Waters Columbarium located within St. Gianna’s Church

15 Columbia Drive, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3Y 0R5

Phone: 204-488-3977 E-mail: livingwaters@mymts.net Website: www.livingwaterswpg.ca

COPYRIGHT © 2018 LIVING WATERS COLUMBARIUM

St. Gianna Council #14199

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