You can request information through the website, saintmcc.com or call the church office, 863-324-3040.  A staff member will contact you to make an appointment to go over any questions you may have or any information you may want

A Columbarium is a structure that houses cremated remains. The cremated remains are placed in a reserved space in the Columbarium called a niche. The container that holds the cremated remains in a niche is called an urn.  When you make a purchase in the Columbarium, you are purchasing placement rights (reservation) in a niche for cremated remains. St. Matthew Catholic Church Columbarium includes niches in an octagon-shaped structure with the large crucifix in the center, surrounded by four separate structures (units) which also include niches.

Yes. Purchase of a niche reservation in the Columbarium can be made by an individual before death.  Purchasing placement rights in a niche is the best way of ensuring that your wishes are honored when you die. Purchase of a niche can also be made by the family of the deceased following death. 

Yes, there is availability mainly in the octagon.  There are still some niches available in the 4 units surrounding the octagon.  You may notice many niches are not engraved.  This does not mean the units are available for sale.  Previously,  units were engraved at the time of purchase but this practice is no longer taking place.  During your appointment, a staff member will inform you know what niches are available for purchase.   Niches can be purchased for one person, a single niche, or for two persons, a double niche.

The price of the niche includes the reservation of a location for placement of cremated remains.  The price does not include the urn or the engraving of the name, year of birth and year of death of the deceased person in the granite slab covering the niche.

Purchase of a niche can be payed by check, credit card or cash. Niche purchase on installment for up to 12 months with a deposit is also available.

The urn and engraving of the granite slab does not need to be purchased at the same time the niche is purchased.  You may if you want to or you may buy it at anytime in the future.  Call the office to set up an appointment.  Purchase will be required at the time of need, when a death takes place. The purchase of urn and engraving needs to be payed in full.  There is no installment payment plan.  Due to the fact that the space in the niche is very tight, St. Matthew Columbarium has urns for sale that fit in the niche.  You do not need to purchase the urn from St. Matthew.  Please call the office if you would like to get the measurements of the urn to purchase on your own.

Once a person dies, the name of the deceased, date of birth, date of death and niche number will be inscribed on the bottom of the urn.  Afterwards, the family and the funeral home will be notified and arrangements can be made for pickup of the urn by either one.

Notify the church office of the death of your spouse.  You will need to purchase an urn and engraving(of slab) if you have not already done so.  Pick up of the urn by a family member or the funeral home from the church office will need to be arranged. The funeral home or crematory will place the cremated remains in the urn and seal it. During this time, plans can be made with the Bereavement Ministry of St. Matthew for a funeral mass for the deceased. 

For the inurnment, a copy of the death certificate and cremation certificate is required to place in the inurnment file.

Usually family members bring the urn to church the day of the funeral mass.  The family can also make arrangement with the funeral home to deliver the urn to church the day of the funeral mass.  In this case, the funeral home representative will need to remain on church property until a member of the family has arrived on church grounds.

The inurnment will usually take place after the funeral mass on a weekday morning.  The funeral mass does not need to take place at St. Matthew.  The funeral mass can take place in any Catholic Church, then an inurnment service will need to be scheduled with the pastor of St. Matthew for inurnment in the Columbarium.  Under normal circumstances, any person that is to be inurned in the Columbarium is to have a funeral Mass.  Due to the coronavirus, the family of the deceased is given the choice of a funeral mass with inurnment or an inurnment service only.  Please be aware the funeral mass has been simplified to accommodate the safety requirements due to the coronavirus.

Yes.  Your spouse can be inurned in the Columbarium as long as the person agreed to having a Catholic Inurnment.