2014
Memorial Garden Columbarium
The custom of burying our loved ones near the parish church is almost as old as the concept of a parish itself. It is also a symbol of our life in faith, which begins in Baptism and ends with death and new life in Christ.
At the request of our parishioners, St. Mary Student Parish is constructing a memorial garden columbarium for the internment of remains of parish members and loved ones. A columbarium is an arrangement of openings, or niches, that are used as a permanent resting place for urns containing the cremated remains of an individual.
After years of planning, we’ve obtained permission from the Bishop and our memorial garden is under construction! Our columbarium is composed of cast bronze and granite, with 214 niches available. It is located in the courtyard behind the parish offices. The in-ground structure is along the wall facing the bell, and is visible from the upper atrium. In the spring, the surrounding areas of the columbarium will be beautifully landscaped.
For more information, including pricing and availability, please contact Julie Mussio
2014
SMSP Advent Blog
This December, we are embarking on a new and creative Advent journey at St. Mary. Members of the staff and student leaders are writing daily reflections about what inspires them as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of Christ. Our intention is to give voice to the people of God in our midst and to highlight the particular ways that God is becoming incarnate and dwelling among us right here in this parish. For this reason, we will not be offering the Advent reflection booklets that we have in the past* but hope instead that you will join us on this new Advent journey.
The St. Mary Advent reflections will be posted daily on a blog that can be accessed through the website, Facebook, or Twitter:
SMSPAdvent.blogspot.com
Receiving daily updates from the blog is quick and easy! To sign up via text, send the word advent to 313131. To sign up to receive daily emails, please visit the blog and submit your email address in the top right corner.
We look forward to seeing you there! If you have questions or comments, please contact Abby Braun.
*Many of the reflections will include mixed media, such as songs or videos, and as a result do not lend themselves well to hard copy. If you are looking for a printed resource for Advent, check out Sacred Space for Advent and the Christmas Season 2014-15 at Ave Maria Press (800 282-1865, ext. 1).