Columbarium proposed for Ss Peter & Paul's Church

The parish of Ss Peter & Paul's Church Athlone has announced a proposal to install a columbarium, offering a 'dignified' resting place' for 'cremated remains'.

The columbarium will be installed within the church's old mortuary chapel to the right of the main entrance door.

The Parish said the 'sacred installation' will simultaneously allow for the 'long overdue upgrade to the church's heating system'.

A columbarium is a dedicated room used to house funeral urns containing cremated remains.

In a social media post, Ss Peter & Paul's Parish, said to "bring this vision to life", it had engaged the services of Mr Joseph O'Neill of Eternum Columbarium, an 'Irish company specialising in partnering with churches to design, build and manage sacred niches spaces'.

The proposal has been 'approved by both the Parish Pastoral Council and Parish Finance Committee' with 'full support' received from the Bishop.

The Parish confirmed that the proposal has received 'positive community feedback', and the project is now 'progressing to formal design and planning phase'.