The Columbarium at Prince of Peace Catholic Community is a sacred place of prayer, remembrance, and Christian hope.

Located within the life of our parish, the Columbarium serves as a permanent resting place for members of our faith community whose cremated remains have been entrusted to the care of the Church. It stands as a visible witness to our belief in the communion of saints, the dignity of the human person, and the promise of the resurrection of the body.

The Catholic Church permits cremation, while continuing to affirm the reverence owed to the body and the importance of burial in a sacred place. The care of the dead is one of the Corporal Works of Mercy, and from the earliest centuries Christians have honored the faithful departed through burial, prayer, and remembrance.

The Columbarium reflects this sacred tradition by providing a place where loved ones remain connected to the worshipping life of the parish and may continue to be remembered in prayer by family, friends, and fellow parishioners. For many families, it has become a place of quiet reflection after Mass, during All Souls observances, and throughout the liturgical year.

The Columbarium also contains memorial features from the original church, including the original stone altar and ambo, preserved as reminders of the parish’s spiritual history and continuity across generations of faith. The cremated remains of our founding pastor, Rev. R. James Balint, are also entrusted here, reflecting his lasting connection to the parish community he helped establish and shepherd for many years.

At this time, all niches within the Columbarium have been sold and the parish does not maintain a waiting list. Should niches become available in the future, parishioners will be notified through normal parish communication channels.

Because the Columbarium is sacred ground, all visitors are asked to help preserve an atmosphere of prayer, silence, and reverence. Out of respect for the faithful departed and their families, visitors are encouraged to avoid loud conversations, social gatherings, posed photography sessions, or other activities inconsistent with the sacred and contemplative character of the space.

Families are warmly welcome to visit the Columbarium together, and parents are asked to help children understand the sacred character of the space. The fountain, memorial features, altar, ambo, and surrounding structures are intended for prayerful reflection and remembrance and should be treated with the same reverence shown to sacred spaces and furnishings within the church.

Children should remain under close supervision while visiting the Columbarium, and climbing, running, or recreational activity within the space should be avoided out of respect for the faithful departed, their families, and those who come to pray.

To preserve the dignity, simplicity, and uniform appearance of the Columbarium for all families, permanent decorations or items may not be affixed to niches. In addition, flowers, vases, memorabilia, or other items may not be placed on the ground surrounding the Columbarium. Items left in these areas will be respectfully removed in order to preserve the sacred dignity and contemplative character of the Columbarium.

As Catholics, we believe that our relationship with the faithful departed does not end at death. We continue to commend them to the mercy of God through prayer and remembrance, awaiting the day when Christ “will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body” (Philippians 3:21).

Visitors are encouraged to approach the Columbarium in the same spirit of reverence shown within the church itself — as a place set apart for prayer, mercy, and the hope of eternal life.

“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.”