Columbarium – Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton

Located behind the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton, the Sacred Heart Columbarium is set in a landscaped, tranquil garden atmosphere, and provides an attractive location for grieving, prayer, reflection, and meditation.

A columbarium is an arrangement of openings, in a mausoleum or a wall, into which an urn or other worthy vessel containing earthly remains is placed as an enduring memorial to a loved one. The openings are covered with an inscribed plaque that acts as a memorial for the deceased and an attractive, practical alternative to burial in a cemetery.

Why choose a columbarium?

Those who choose a columbarium as a final resting place for a loved one may be influenced by the significance of:

- their loved one being laid to rest in the grounds of the church that they loved and served in life
- their loved one being near their church, perpetuating a rewarding and lifelong relationship
- the religious focus of the church as their final resting place
- the flexibility offered by cremation in the timing and planning of the final disposition of remains
- the simplicity of the liturgy involved in the placement of remains
- the proximity and convenience of visits by loved ones and periods of reflection

From a more practical level

- the fee for placement in a columbarium niche is less than interment in a cemetery
- increasing concerns about environmental effects, space issues and permanency of cemetery burial
- the placement of remains is provided in perpetuity with no time limits