OLOM Columbarium offers peace, comfort

Our Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge presented a rose of hope to families, who with mingling smiles and tears, gathered to remember their loved ones interred at the new OLOM Garden of Peace Memorial Columbarium.

Bishop Michael G. Duca blessed the columbarium March 14.

In his welcome OLOM pastor Father Cleo Milano noted that the Garden of Peace was identified by the parish as one of its needs during the Traditions for Tomorrow Campaign six years ago.   

“And today that dream becomes a reality,” said Father Milano, who recognized everyone who worked during construction of the project.

Following the praying of the Divine Mercy Chaplet and reading of the Gospel by Deacon Richard Grant, deacon assistant at OLOM, Bishop Duca prayed a committal prayer for the deceased in the columbarium garden. Then in a message of comfort and hope, the bishop said he often asks himself how when it comes to the moment of death of a loved one “we are able to keep going.”

“People die everyday and so many have died during the pandemic. But the numbers don’t matter when we lose someone we love most deeply –  a child, grandchild, spouse, parent, a friend who has been with us our whole life,” said Bishop Duca. “Their lives are woven into our very selves. There is no way to separate us from that person and that love, and death seems to tear them away from us.”

But as attested with the building of the columbarium garden, Bishop Duca said the faithful are able to stand in the face of death. 

“We might almost be destroyed, we might be brought low to the point that we think we will never rise again, but never despairing,” said Bishop Duca. 

Even in the midst of sadness, there is always the light of faith, which Jesus spoke about to Nicodemus in that Sunday’s Gospel passage, according to Bishop Duca. He noted one is born into the world, then reborn in baptism and born into eternal life at death.

“We believe in the resurrection of the body and the soul, which means the whole person.  We are not a drop in the ocean. We base our identity on Christ and his resurrection,” said the bishop.

He said people are not destroyed by death because of the bonds of love.

“That relationship is eternal,” Bishop Duca noted. “It is the bonds of love we make now that we take with us, we truly take with us. That’s why we feel their loss so greatly. Today in this place, we ascribe not only the love we have for those who have died but our faith that one day we will be together. Our loved ones are not lost, we know where they are. One day we will be together with them.”

Bishop Duca pointed out that the Garden of Peace blessing was held on Rose Sunday, which is a joyful pause during the somber season of Lent. Even as Catholics prepare to gaze upon Jesus on the cross on Good Friday, “we know the rest of the story” in that Jesus saved us in the “holiest moment of his resurrection,” said the bishop.

He urged attendees to pray in that joy and hope.

“Often I say the strength of our faith will minister to others in our death,” said Bishop Duca.

After blessing the garden the bishop prayed the final blessing and family and friends lingered, appearing consoled that their loved ones are indeed not forgotten but remembered in the prayerful support and faith life of OLOM.