Shrine Columbarium and Gardens

The Shrine Columbarium was constructed on the Shrine property overlooking Pearl Harbor in 1998. Many Catholics, and non-Catholics, regularly seek to select a niche for the immediate needs of the cremains (cremated ashes) of their loved one or for future plans for the interment of their own cremated bodies when they are called back to Abba. Besides containing the black Zimbabwe granite columns of burial niches, the columbarium contains considerable other features of importance. The stones that line the wall of the Columbarium, the twelve large stones in sets of three, the stone altar, and the granite-faced cross, all have symbolic Christian significance dating back from the time of Christ to the present.

This holy, blessed, and dedicated place for the interment of the cremains of loved ones is enhanced by the Biblical and Marian Gardens that flourish during the growing season each year. The plants found in these gardens are representatives of similar or related plants mentioned throughout the Bible or found in Church Tradition, particularly in relationship to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The initial research, development, and success of the gardens can be attributed to the efforts of Ed and Janis Burns-Buyarski.

Catholics and non-Catholics who believe in the Resurrection of the body according to
Christian belief, may choose to be interred at the Shrine Columbarium unless there would be some grave reason for not allowing this to happen. There are columbariums (burial or
cremain storage niches in a column--side by side) that hold the urns containing the
cremains of the deceased. Two columns contain niches or cubes that are for single urns
(one person's cremains) and are referred to as single niches; two columns contain niches
that hold two urns (if they are of the correct size to both fit) and these are called doubles
and are for the cremains of two persons of the same family or husband and wife.

To find out more details about being interred at the Shrine Columbarium contact:

Shrine of St. Therese
415 Sixth St. , Juneau , Alaska 99801
Phone: (907) 780-6112 — FAX: (907) 463-3237
Email: juneaushrine@gci.net
www.shrineofsainttherese.org