The first phase of the columbarium at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church was ready for its dedication and blessing July 27. (Courtesy Our Lady of Good Counsel Church)
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Our Lady of Good Counsel Church held a dedication and blessing July 27 for the first phase of its columbarium, a wall of niches where the ashes of parishioners and other faithful are laid to rest.
Parishioners gathered as Sacred Hearts Father Santhosh Thottankara blessed the columbarium.
According to a letter from Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries, which partnered with the Pearl City church to build the columbarium, more than $14,000 in donations has been set aside from the sale of niches to support Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries has been working with churches across the state to construct columbaria. So far four churches have completed their walls: St. Ann in Kaneohe, Resurrection of the Lord in Waipio, Our Lady of Good Counsel and St. Anthony Church in Wailuku.
Several other churches have also begun work on columbarium projects.
Deacon Jeff Calamayan, left; Sacred Hearts Father Santhosh Thottankara; parish building committee chairperson Garry Dixon; and Duane Pavao, director of cemeteries for Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries, stood in front of the columbarium. (Courtesy Our Lady of Good Counsel Church)