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http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-OS-27-columbaria N.htm Page 2 of 3
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<br /> "IYs almost like things come full circle,"Lenow said. was only one place you went—the local
<br /> "We celebrate birth, life,death and life beyond death • undertaker,"Eickhoff said."There was only one
<br /> (in the church). I suspect you're going to find this place you were buried,and that was in the cemetery �
<br /> as very much a growing trend in the decades plot."
<br /> ahead." -
<br /> . Those plots are not as obtainable as they once were.
<br /> At Lenow's church,each niche can hold the ums of Metropolitan cemeteries are filling up,said Paul
<br /> two individuals and sells for$2,000.They are only Pinigis,technical sales representative for�
<br /> sold to members of the church or people connected Architarium,an Austin,Texas,company thet has
<br /> . to the church. been building columbaria for more than 80 years. .
<br /> Other churches opt for indoor columbaria. National Pinigis said most orders come from churches.The
<br /> City Christian Church in Washington, D.C., built its structures can be a form of church income by
<br /> 865-niche columbarium in 1986. _ selling space in their columbaria.
<br /> "People from all over the U.S.come to(live and work "The columbaria systems today are superior to what
<br /> in)Washington,"said Wes Strotman,facilities was available 10 years ago,"Pinigis said."Because
<br /> chairman of National City Christian Church � of that,the cost is more affordable for the churches,
<br /> Foundation."It felt logical to have a central place for giving them a qualiry product."
<br /> people to be taken to instead of a cemetery. IYs one '
<br /> of these changing things. Fifty years ago,you Some churches find it simpler because they're
<br /> wouldn't have heard of this kind of thing around dealing with ums instead of bodies and caskets.
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<br /> here. � . They don't have to hire anyone to dig holes with
<br /> heavy equipment or deal with "all the difficult things
<br /> The Rev.James Martin,a Jesuit priest and author of that require cemetery overhead and equipment,"
<br /> My Life �th the Saints,said worship around the Eickhoff said.
<br /> tombs of saints is an ancient tradition. Early
<br /> Christians worshipped in the catacombs—secret And iYs easier for families to visit their loved ones.
<br /> underground burial caves—and some of the first
<br /> churches were erected over the tombs of martyrs. ^The folks that are inumed in the church
<br /> congregation are part of a church family,"Vacanti
<br /> "The worship and the respect that takes place in said."Usually they're there once a week anyway. IYs ,
<br /> columbaria and graves ... reminds us that the very convenient."
<br /> people who went before us were real human
<br /> beings,"Martin said.'They weren't legends or Strotman,the facilities chairman of the D.C.church,
<br /> mythical figures.This reminds us of our own call to .
<br /> holiness as embodied people." Advertisement �
<br /> The increase in demand for church columbaria has ' � � �-
<br /> its roots in many factors. *�
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<br /> Paul Eickhof,president of Minnesota-based Eickhof � �� t � .
<br /> Columbaria Inc.,said cremation is cheaperand .._._ _....... .�..._.. _
<br /> requires less land. He said people today better t,� ���� ,��.;� ;, �r���,��,��,�u��
<br /> understand theirvarious burial options, including � �„-��- , ';
<br /> cremation. , �`�;� .;� �I�]�'��6`���P,�dCI��
<br /> i • :, g� ' �i e�9�?���'�b�.'������
<br /> His company has seen a 200%increase in church- C ' " � ' �
<br /> ��aa,uarm.r„�._ r
<br /> sited columbaria installations in the past 10 years. F: ����. �,�� '� ( Pj���4f �, � '
<br /> The company's initial market in the late 1980s was .,k ,�.'� �.m'"°�^"." y� � :
<br /> #�� ea.y�mtt»ta�tix ..
<br /> c e m e t eries. Now t hey comp le te a bou t t hree an d a ,��, .,c,,,.,�. ,;,�, �
<br /> �, >l .� �x <:�.a �,.��:�n ,
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<br /> half church columbaria per month. x: � . � � �_ � FE Jp
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<br /> In years past when someone passed away,there i F� ++���� h� 6 ��..k,4..n:,,�:;;� �;;,���„�;
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<br /> htip://www.usatoday.com/cleanprind?1281638759682 8/12/2010
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