Columbarium Policies

Purpose of the Columbarium. The St. Anne Columbarium provides a final resting place for the inurnment of cremated human remains of parishioners of Sacred Heart church and other persons. The Columbarium is located at 21508 East River, Grosse Ile, MI 48138.

Management of the Columbarium. The Pastor of Sacred Heart and his designees are responsible for managing the Columbarium and the Columbarium records.

Columbarium Structures. The Columbarium consists of the wall on the east side of the Sacred Heart Memorial Garden and the Columbarium within St. Anne Chapel. The wall has 3 sections (A-C), with a total of 40 niches. The St. Anne Columbarium has one section, containing 31 niches arranged in seven rows.

Purchase Agreement. A Right of Inurnment Agreement is required to complete the purchase process. The Agreement can be viewed on the Sacred Heart Church website: sacredheartgi.org, or can be obtained by calling the Parish at 734-676-1378. The price for purchasing a niche includes: inurnment in a specific niche; lettering on the niche; and perpetual care of the Columbarium. The price does not include the cost of cremation or urn. The Parish may change the Columbarium prices from time to time. If the price is changed, those with any pre-existing Right of Inurnment Agreement on file at Sacred Heart Church will not be charged an additional price, and they will not receive a refund for any amount previously paid.

Designating the Persons to be Entombed. At the time of inurnment, the holder of a Right of Inurnment Agreement shall designate the person(s) to be entombed in the niche by submitting an Authorization of Memorial Identification form to the Parish. No cremated human remains may be entombed in a niche except those of the person(s) the holder designates for that niche.

Title and Rights. The holder of a Right of Inurnment Agreement possesses the right to place the cremated human remains designated by the holder in a specific niche, in accordance with these Policies and Procedures, as amended from time to time. The holder is not conferred any property rights in the Columbarium, in any of its niches, or in any of the Parish’s property. Legal title to the Columbarium and to all niches is held by the Parish at all times. In the event of a discrepancy between a Right of Inurnment Agreement and Parish records, the Parish records shall take precedence.

Memorial Identification - Columbarium: At the time of inurnment, the name(s) of the deceased shall be provided to the Parish on the Authorization of Memorial Identification form. The name(s) of the inurned will be shown on the niche front with bronze letters. This will include the family (last) name, first name and middle initial, year of birth, and year of death. A small cross will separate the dates. To maintain a dignified memorial appearance, more extensive lettering or information cannot be accommodated.

Memorial Identification - Glass front niches within St. Anne Chapel: At the time of inurnment, the name(s) of the deceased shall be provided to the Parish on the Authorization of Memorial Identification form. The names in the format listed above and the location of the niche will be placed on a plaque on the nearby wall.

Right of Inurnment Agreement Holder’s Contact Information. Each holder of a Right of Inurnment Agreement must notify the Parish of any changes to his or her mailing address, email address, and telephone number. Communications sent by the Parish to the holder of a Right of Inurnment Agreement at the last addresse that he or she provided to the Parish shall be deemed received by the owner seven (7) days after the communication is sent.

Inurnment Services. The Pastor of the Parish, or another person authorized by the Pastor, has the right to approve all inurnment services held at the Columbarium and at St. Anne Chapel. Please contact Fr. Marc Gawronski to schedule an inurnment service. [email protected] or 313-333-6608.

Flowers, Flags, Signs, and other Decorations. No flowers, real or artificial, are allowed in the Columbarium area, except at the time of an inurnment. Flags, signs, and other decorations may not be placed in or near the Columbarium. The Parish will remove and dispose of prohibited items without notice and without liability to the Parish.

Personal Conduct in the Columbarium Area. All persons in the Columbarium area shall conduct themselves in accordance with customary good decorum. The Pastor is empowered to enforce these policies and procedures and to exclude any person(s) violating these policies and procedures from the Columbarium area.

Transferring a Right of Inurnment. A Right of Inurnment Agreement may not be sold or otherwise transferred. A Right of Inurnment Agreement can only be relinquished to the Parish, as described below.

Relinquishing a Right of Inurnment. The holder of a Right of Inurnment Agreement may relinquish the Right of Inurnment to the Parish by submitting a Relinquishment of Inurnment Right form to the Parish. Upon receipt of this form, the Parish will terminate the Right of Inurnment Agreement and will provide a refund to the holder in the amount of eighty percent (80%) of the Right of Inurnment fee that was paid.

Removal or Relocation of Cremated Human Remains by the Parish. The Parish may temporarily remove cremated human remains while making repairs or improvements to the Columbarium. The holder of a Right of Inurnment Agreement agrees to permit the temporary removal of any cremated human remains until such repairs are completed.

Security of Cremated Human Remains. The Parish shall not willfully take any action, or willfully fail to take any action, that would result in the loss, destruction, or desecration of any cremated human remains placed in Columbarium niches or niches in St. Anne Chapel. The holder of a Right of Inurnment Agreement, his or her heirs, family, survivors and successors assume the risk of the loss, destruction or desecration of cremated human remains from any or all other causes.

Questions. If you have any questions about these Policies and Procedures, please contact the Parish at 734-676-1378.