The guidelines and rules listed below are designed to protect the owners of the interment rights within the Shrine Columbarium and to communicate as clearly as possible the policies and practices that are necessary for the desired operation of the Shrine Columbarium.  All owners of the interment rights, family members, visitors and contractors, shall be subject to the rules and policies established herein.   The Shrine Board reserves the right to alter, delete or create new guidelines if deemed beneficial to the operation of the Shrine of St. Therese Columbarium at any time.

 DEFINITIONS:

(a) Shrine of St. Therese Board is composed of members dedicated to the mission statement of the Shrine of St. Therese and established to assist the Bishop in overseeing the development and operation of the Shrine.  Members meet regularly to make necessary decisions and policy to enable that the Shrine of St. Therese continues to be a place of refuge and retreat, a place of healing, a Holy Ground set apart to enable persons to come to a deeper awareness of their Creator and Lord.  The Bishop serves as Rector of the Shrine of St. Therese and has final authority in all matters concerning its operation including the Shrine Columbarium.

(b)Ownerwill be defined as a holder of a Certificate of Interment Rights in the Shrine Columbarium.

(c)The term “Interment” shall mean the inurnment of cremated remains of a deceased person.

 SUPERVISION OF THE COLUMBARIUM AREA:

The Shrine of St. Therese shall take reasonable precaution to protect owners and the property rights of owners within the Columbarium area from loss or damage, but it distinctly disclaims all responsibility for loss or damage from causes beyond reasonable control and especially from damage caused by the elements, an act of God, common enemy, thieves, vandals, strikers, malicious intents, explosions, unavoidable accidents, invasions, insurrections, riots or order of any military or civil authority, whether the damage be direct or collateral, other than as herein provided.

 The Shrine reserves and shall have the right to correct any errors that may be made by it either in making interments, disinterments or removal, or in the placement of inscriptions.  Such corrections can take the form of substitutions of interment rights of equal value as may be made by the Shrine at the sole discretion of the Board.  In the event that any error shall involve the interment of the cremated remains of any person in such location, the Shrine reserves and shall have the rights to remove and transfer such remains to other locations within the Columbarium of equal quality.  The Shrine shall also have the right to correct any errors made by placing an improper inscription, including an incorrect name or date on the niche for created remains.

 The Shrine reserves the right to make changes to the environment of the Columbarium area from time to time, including the right to modify or change vegetation and/or outdoor art or sculptures within and surrounding the Columbarium, the locations of roads, drives and walks, as well as to add more Columbarium units as deemed desirable.

ENDOWMENT CARE AND MAINTENANCE:

The Shrine intends to maintain the Columbarium area through funds and generated income from the Endowment Care and Maintenance Fund.  Deposits from payments made to this fund through the Purchaser’s Agreement and generated income from such a separate account shall be used solely for the maintenance of the Columbarium, including access to the Columbarium and surrounding environment as well as to pay such costs as may be reasonably necessary for the administration of the Endowment Care and Maintenance Fund. 

GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS:

  1. Dogs must be under control at all times, leashes preferred.
  2. Visitors are prohibited from picking flowers or breaking in any manner trees, shrubs or plants.  The Columbarium grounds are sacred, devoted to the interment of the deceased, and it is incumbent on all visitors to conduct themselves with becoming propriety.
  3. Cut flowers may be placed by caring persons in the designated flower containers in the Columbarium if such are available.  Shrine staff reserve the rights to removing flowers that are not put in the specified containers or repositioning them in identified flower vessels within the Columbarium. Flowers should not encroach over another interred person's niche.
  4. The Shrine Board expressly reserves the right to, at any time, change or adopt new rules and policies, or to amend, alter, modify or repeal any portion of these guidelines.
  5. The Shrine Board reserves the right to make special exception to any and all rules herein, however, rules and policies established are firmly established and will be followed except in the best interests of the Shrine and those it serves.
  6. Automobiles shall not be driven on the foot paths to the Shrine Columbarium.  Exception to this policy may be made for service vehicles as required by Shrine personnel to maintain the premises appropriately.
  7. No firearm will be permitted within the Columbarium except for a military guard of honor, and then only in the charge of an officer and during a military service.
  8. A Certificate of Interment Rights gives the holder the right to have human remains interred in one or more niche units, based on the transaction of purchase. The niche can be used for no other purpose.
  9. The Shrine Columbarium is reserved for only the interment of human cremated remains; no animal remains are permitted.
  10. Shrine approved urns must be used for the interment of the cremated remains in the Columbarium.
  11. Other than Communion Wine (if a Mass is held at Columbarium), alcoholic beverages are not acceptable to be consumed during interment ceremonies. Please contact the Shrine Director if there are any questions.
  12.  Persons should use caution in application of any materials—tapes, adhesives, etc. to the face of the granite.