Revised Feb Initials /

Transcription

1 Policies and Procedures The Parish has undertaken the construction of the Columbarium to provide a reverential place to inter cremated remains in perpetuity in a memorial garden setting adjacent to the Parish. Plans for the Columbarium shown to the members of the Parish are conceptual only. The Columbarium will be constructed in phases over a period of years depending upon the funds that become available and extent of demand for niches. The Parish makes no representation as to the nature and extent of future construction. The Columbarium will be constructed in phases as demand indicates. In the event the Parish elects not to construct the Columbarium, all fees collected will be refunded. The Niche License Application fee includes inurnment of cremated remains in the niche and the cost of engraving on niche front. Costs of the urn and cremation are not included. 1. Upon initial completion of the Columbarium, all operations shall be administered by the Pastor, Pastoral Coodinator or Administrator (hereafter known as the Pastor) of Church of the Epiphany, Richmond, VA (hereafter known as the Parish), under the authority of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond. The Parish Pastoral Council, Parish Finance Council, any sub-committee they may create and the Custodian shall assist the Pastor in the performance of these responsibilities and duties. 2. All funds received with respect to the Columbarium shall be distributed and accounted for in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Bishop of Richmond and the Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church. 3. The Pastor may adopt and amend, from time to time, these Policies and Procedures without notice when reasonable, uniform and appropriate for the operation, control, use and preservation of the Columbarium and the preservation of cremated remains therein. 4. Special cases may arise in which the strict enforcement of a rule may impose unnecessary hardship. The Pastor may, without notice, make exceptions, suspensions or modifications of any of these rules when it appears advisable. Such temporary exception, suspension or modification shall not be construed as affecting the general application of these Policies and Procedures. Revised Feb Initials /

2 5. Present and former registered members of the Parish, together with their families, are eligible for the privilege of purchasing a Niche License. The Columbarium is intended for the inurnment of the cremated remains of those who are entitled to Christian burial according to the rules and disciplines of the Roman Catholic Church and the regulations of the Pastor. 6. The Pastor may, at his discretion, permit members of other area parishes to purchase Niche Licenses which will be issued subject to these Policies and Procedures and be subject to the same fee schedule. 7. No property right of any kind in the Columbarium or any part accrues to the benefit of the Purchaser(s) or Person(s) to be Inurned. The Niche License extends solely to the privilege of inurnment of the cremated remains in the Columbarium, subject always to these Policies and Procedures and to all future reasonable and uniform amendments which may be hereafter adopted by the Pastor without notice. 8. Arrangements for the inurnment of cremated remains must be made through the Pastor. Arrangements should be made sufficiently in advance of inurnment of ashes to permit the verification of records. No inurnment of cremated remains may take place without the permission of the Pastor. The commitment and purchase of engraving shall be tantamount to the inurnment of cremated remains, whether said remains have been placed in a niche or not. Inurnment of cremated remains shall be made only in urns, purchased by the family. 9. Inside dimensions of the niche are 9 inches wide x 13 inches tall x 19 inches deep. The niche may hold two urns and both urns must be of a size that will fit easily in the space. Only cremated remains of one human may be placed in a single urn. All inurnment rites will be in accordance with funeral rites of the Roman Catholic Church. 10. The removal of cremated remains shall be allowed only for reasons satisfactory to, and with the consent of, the Pastor. 11. Removals shall also have the written consent of the surviving spouse or the next of kin of the deceased or what is legally required by the Commonwealth of Virginia. In the event of removal by either the surviving spouse or next of kin there will be no refund of the Niche License Fees. 12. If, in the discretion of the Pastor, it becomes necessary or desirable to change the location of the Columbarium or to discontinue use of all or part of the Columbarium, the urns and cremated remains may be moved and placed in another suitable place. The expense of such removal shall be borne by the Parish. A reasonable effort will be made to notify the next of kin before removal. Revised Feb Initials /

3 13. If the present columbarium is to be sold or demolished and a replacement columbarium will not be furnished, Niche License Reservations will be cancelled (with written notification to the Purchasers, Persons to be Inurned, and family members of inurned persons) and rights of inurnment will cease. The notification will include plans for inurnment at another location. If the new location is not acceptable, then new inurnment plans can be made by the Purchaser of the Niche License or family members of inurned persons. No compensation will be due the purchaser or inurned person s family members or estate. 14. The Niche License Fee of $4,000 may be paid in whole or part at the time the Niche License Application is signed. A minimum, non-refundable, partial payment of fifty percent (50%) will be due at the time of signature to reserve Columbarium space and maintain the current cost of the Niche License Application. A period of three (3) months will be given for payment of the remaining balance of the Niche License Fee. If the balance of the Fee is not paid in its entirety during this three-month period, the Fee will be increased to meet the current Niche License cost. If, after a grace period of sixty days (60), the Fee is not paid in its entirety, the Pastor reserves the right to terminate the Niche License Application. Any paid fees are forfeited. 15. The Niche License Fee does not include the purchase cost of the urn or the cost of cremation. 16. A Niche License Reservation will be issued to the Purchaser upon payment in full of the Niche License Fee. 17. The designated parish representative, Custodian, will consult with the Purchaser of the Niche License to reserve a specific niche location when final payment is received and the Niche License Application has been approved. 18. In the future, if Niche License Applications Fees are changed, current Purchasers are not to be reimbursed or assessed additional costs based on the new cost structure. 19. Prior to inurnment, a Niche License may be cancelled by providing written notice of cancellation to the Pastor. The Purchaser(s) may receive a refund of fifty percent (50%) of the initial Niche License Fee paid, less any and all additional expenses incurred by the Parish to cover the cost of transfer. 20. The Niche License is issued to the Purchaser(s) for the Person to be Inurned and cannot be transferred. 21. The Niche License may be terminated: A. By voluntary cancellation by the Purchaser(s) prior to inurnment as provided in these Policies and Procedures; Revised Feb Initials /

4 B. By the Pastor after the non-use of a Niche for a period of 100 years from the date of birth, unless the Person(s) to be Inurned listed on the Niche License are still alive. In that case the agreement will remain in effect until five years after their deaths. C. Under the provisions of these Policies and Procedures. 22. Following the inurnment of cremated remains in a niche, engraving will be provided on the niche front. This engraving is the only item permitted on the covering of the niche. The engraving will permit only the name of the deceased, usually the first name, middle initial & last name, together with date of birth and date of death. Phrases such as Beloved Wife, Devoted Son, etc. will not be allowed. Purchaser(s) will provide this information on the Niche License Application. 23. The Parish intends to exercise reasonable care in the routine maintenance of the Columbarium in perpetuity. In the event of injury, loss or damage to the Columbarium or its constituent parts, the liability of the Parish is limited to the cost of repair or replacement. The Parish is not responsible for the loss of cremated remains deposited in the Columbarium. 24. The right is reserved by the Parish to add, move, or remove flowers, trees and shrubs in the Columbarium as well as other embellishments such as benches and statues. 25. No personal decorations will be permitted. 26. The Purchaser(s) must notify the Parish of any changes in address, phone number and/or address of both the Purchaser(s) and Person(s) to be Inurned. Correspondence by the Parish to the Purchaser(s) and Person(s) to be Inurned at their last known addresses will be deemed received by seven days after the correspondence is sent. 27. The following terms shall have the following meanings when used in this License: A. Person to be Inurned: Those persons eligible for the privilege of having their cremated remains inurned in the Columbarium as defined by these Policies and Procedures. B. Niche: A recess in the unit for holding an urn. C. Urn: A receptacle for human cremated remains to be placed in a niche. D. Inurnment: The placement of an urn containing human cremated remains into a niche, or the engraving on niche front without remains. E. Purchaser(s): The person(s) paying for the Niche License Application and requesting the use of a niche. The Columbarium is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Richmond. F. Custodian: The designated parish representative responsible for keeping the official records of the Columbarium. In the event of any discrepancy between the records of a Purchaser and the Parish, the Parish record will control. Revised Feb Initials /

5 Contact Information Person(s) who may make arrangements for inurnment: Niche Location # Purchaser(s) Relationship to Inurned Relationship to Inurned Relationship to Inurned Please notify Church of the Epiphany of any changes to this information.

6 Purchaser of Niche License Niche License Application Purchaser of Niche License Niche License Fee: $4,000 Payment Options: Full payment of $4, % down payment of $2,000; balance of $2,000 due by I hereby request to purchase a Niche License in the Columbarium. I have received a copy of the Policies and Procedures for the Columbarium and agree to adhere to them. If for some reason my request for licensing a niche is not approved, my payment will be returned in full without interest to/from me. Purchaser Signature Purchaser Signature Date Date Revised Feb

7 Person to be Inurned First Last Date of Birth Date of Death Relationship to the Purchaser Person to be Inurned First Last Date of Birth Date of Death Relationship to the Purchaser Niche Location will be chosen when total payment has been made and the Niche License Reservation is issued. This Niche License Application is approved / is not approved. Pastor Signature Revised Feb