The first section of the Columbarium of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church was ready for its dedication and blessing on July 27. (Courtesy of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church)

Hawaii Catholic Herald

On July 27, Our Lady of Good Counsel Church held a dedication and blessing for the first phase of its columbarium, a wall of niches where the ashes of parishioners and other believers are interred.

Parishioners gathered as Father Santhosh Thottankara of the Sacred Hearts blessed the columbarium.

According to a letter from Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries, which partnered with the Pearl City church in building the columbarium, the sale of the niches raised more than $14,000 in donations for Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries has been working with churches across the state to build columbaria. So far, four churches have completed their walls: St. Ann in Kaneohe, Resurrection of the Lord in Waipio, Our Lady of Good Counsel and St. Anthony Church in Wailuku.

Several other churches have also begun work on columbarium projects.

Deacon Jeff Calamayan (left), Father Santhosh Thottankara of the Sacred Hearts, Garry Dixon, chairman of the parish building committee, and Duane Pavao, cemetery director of Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries, stood in front of the columbarium. (Courtesy of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church)