The St. Odilia Prayer Garden includes columbaria with niches for cremated remains as well as traditional in-ground burial plots. This is a sacred place where we bury our dead in the spirit of our faith and hope in eternal life. It is a place for our community to gather for prayer and a sacred place offering a quiet place for individual reflection and meditation. The natural beauty of the garden with the pond surrounds each visitor with the peaceful presence of the Creator. We are confident that this ministry at St. Odilia will be a source of comfort and hope for generations to come.

This sacred place is also a visual reminder of our belief in the Communion of Saints as we will eventually be surrounded by our ancestors in faith who have completed their life journey to God. A walk through this garden reminds us of those holy members of our community who have enriched the life of this community by their presence and gifts. Future generations will continue to build on the foundation of faith represented by those who rest in our Prayer Garden.

St. Francis Columbarium
The first columbarium erected (the round columbarium) was named and blessed “St. Francis” for a couple of reasons. St. Francis is the patron of the environment and it is our hope that the natural beauty in our Prayer Garden will inspire and enhance the prayer of those spending time in that sacred place. We also chose the name to honor our Pope Francis and his vision for our Church and our planet.

St. Clare Columbarium
The second columbarium was named “St. Clare” in honor of the companion in ministry of St. Francis. Together they founded the Franciscan Order which to this day models for us simplicity of lifestyle and selfless care for one another and our earth.

St. Monica Columbarium
The third columbarium honors our Crosier heritage as a Parish with the name “St. Monica”. The Crosier Fathers and Brothers have followed the Rule of St. Monica’s son St. Augustine for centuries. They also receive their Crosier habit and pronounce their vows on the Feasts of St. Monica and St. Augustine. It was the many years that St. Monica spent in prayer for her son that lead to his conversion and ultimately his many gifts to the Church. How perfect to have a model of prayer remembered in our own Prayer Garden.

St. Augustine Columbarium
The newest columbarium named after Saint Augustine, is situated by our Blessed Mother’s shrine near the pond. The five level columbarium features sixty niches facing the east and sixty niches facing the west. A plaza along with a wide cement pathway was added to allows access ability for all. Among other accomplishments, St. Augustine went on to write a Rule of Life that is followed by many Religious Communities, including the Crosier Fathers and Brothers who founded St. Odilia Parish and School in 1960. St. Augustine is also remembered for his spiritual masterpiece entitled “City of God”.