Loyola Memorial Parks and Gardens | CREMATION AND OSSUARIES

CREMATION AND OSSUARIES

Many Catholics today still believe that the Church forbids cremation. Prior to the Second Vatican Council, this was true for a variety of reasons.

Rev Fr Gerardo ‘Gerry’ Tapiador, the Vicar General and Moderator Curiae of the Diocese of Novaliches, is one strong advocate of the spiritual values of cremation. Right now, he manages the St Peter Parish Ossuary in Commonwealth, QC and soon, his book, entitled “Into the Light of the Risen Lord: A Biblical Understanding of the Symbolic Significance of Cremation” will be published by St. Paul’s. He believes that this book will promote greater understanding and appreciation of cremation among the general public.

Rev Fr Gerry Tapiador, Vicar General and Moderator Curiae of the Diocese of Novaliches

   In an exclusive interview with Loyola, he cited a number of official Church documents supporting cremation. “The reforms of the Second Vatican Council touched all areas in the life of the Church, including funeral and burial sites. The first document to be promulgated by Pope Paul VI, after the Council began, stipulated that the rite for the burial of the dead should evidence more clearly the paschal character of Christian death; and should correspond more closely to the circumstances and traditions found in various regions (Sacrosanctum Concilium, #81, December 1963).” The second document, an instruction of the Holy Office, related specifically to cremation modified the Church’s position to all cremation to be requested for any sound reason (Piam et Constantem, May 1963).”

   He likewise purported that cremation is selected by many for various reasons, ranging from religious beliefs, ethnic customs to cost. It also offers many options in terms of services, selections and personalization for creating the right memorial and tribute for the bereaved family and the deceased loved one.

CREMATION DEFINED

   The word ‘cremation’ comes from the Latin word ‘cremo’ which mean ‘to burn.’ It is a process of reducing human remains to bone fragments of fine sand or ashes through combustion and dehydration. It is a step in the care of human remains that provides a simple return to nature in the cleanest way and accomplishes it only in a shorter time compared t what would otherwise take years. Cremation generally involves the application of high temperature, typically between 760-1150 Celsius, to a wooden box or casket containing the subject. The cremated remains, usually consisting of bone fragments and particles, will then be finely ground into the form of ashes. The entire process takes three to four hours. These ashes are put in an urn and kept in a columbary and ossuary.

During the wake of Mr Gil ‘Jun’ Puyat Jr, the urn containing his cremains was enshrined along with a chosen portrait and a wide array of flowers

MARKET ADVANTAGE OF CREMATION

Nowadays, many people are searching for an alternative to ground burial as the final disposition of their loved ones which offers beauty and simplicity, thus translating to a stronger command in the market, considering also its affordability and practicability, and the atmosphere of serenity and peace the modern interment gives. Notably, more and more families are using these vaults as receptacles of the bone remains of their loved ones transferred from garden lots.

In terms of basic features, amenities, design and function, ossuaries generally follow the standard:

Perpetual usage and maintenance of the vault
Transferable and assignable
Each vault can accommodate one (1) set of human bones or up to two (2) urns of the prescribed size
Urn can be brought home during desired occasions upon the request of the family and approval of the Park Administration

Unknown to most, ossuary interment is a lot cheaper. The savings that can be generated from cremation compared to traditional burial can be as much as follows:
   Cost Aspects       Savings
   Lot/Unit                  50%
   Interment Fee       88%
   Funeral Service   60%
   Casket/Urn            93%

The big savings would be money that the departed would rather have his family use for other purposes. It is for this reason alone that cremation has gained wider acceptance and popularity through the years.

THE LOYOLA CONCEPT

   Loyola has always been in the forefront of ossuarium development simply because of this reason. Today, the Loyola Memorial Parks have come up with yet another line of product, which will address this concern.

World-class crematorium at Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina

   The two-storey Holy Trinity Chapel in Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina now has new units of ossuaries lined along the three perimeter hallways of the triangle-shaped structure. As for the three corners of the chapel, we see Vatican religious images represented as murals in full color imprinted on stones using the latest computer technologies. These artworks are columbarium vaults by themselves, thus making this a concept with a touch of novelty.

   Likewise, The Heave, which literally means to cause or move up, will bear the epithet of the New Columbaria at Loyola Memorial Park in Parañaque. This section of the Garden of Ascension was conceptualized to create an idyllic garden environment, a tranquil sanctuary that welcomes your relatives each day.

   In terms of utilization, Loyola ossuaries are dual purpose, as every unit can accommodate one set of exhumed bone remains or up to two urns.

   And unlike other columbaries in the market today, Loyola ossuaries are set inside our parks and not merely simulated. Loyola park settings form part of the well-thought concept to ensure that our ossuaries are not only elegant-looking on their own, but more importantly, they serve to enhance the existing ambiance of the surroundings.

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