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Barbara Mosco
Director of Cemetery Management
/Funeral Coordinator
410-256-1630 x105
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The St. Joseph Cemetery Columbaria Memorial Garden

Below is the illustrated rendering of our new St. Joseph Niche Garden .  Because the current 5 columbaria have been sold out, we have planned additional niches to be built in the “new” section of our cemetery, opposite the Amodeo mausoleum. 

The large columbarium that will be in the center of the garden has 72 niches and the surrounding four columbaria will each contain 48 niches.  This planned area will serve the community for many years to come.

 This project has been funded through our cemetery savings and will be paid for in the long run as we sell niches.  In addition, future sales will continue to keep our perpetual care fund strong in order to maintain the cemetery for years to come.  The cost to maintain our cemetery, which is one of the best kept in the area, is not cheap.

 If you have any questions about the memorial garden or would like to purchase a niche, please call our Director of Cemetery Operations, Barbara Mosco at (410) 256-1630.  

    Why Cremation?

    With the Church now permitting cremation, entombment in a columbarium has become a more widespread practice. It should be noted that the Church does not permit the “scattering of ashes”. A respectful and proper burial is required so that the human remains are treated as the “temple of the Holy Spirit”. Code of Cannon Law states that “the Church permits cremation, provided that it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body” (CCC No. 2301). An appendix (Appendix 2) was added to the Order of Christian Funerals (OCF) that provides liturgical guidelines for funeral services when the cremated remains are present. The cremated remains are treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they came. From these documents, the faithful are permitted to consider cremation as an alternative method of burial.

    What are the Costs of Cremation Niches?

    Niche - The question of cost arises as one plans for the future. Similar to grave lots in a cemetery, there is the cost of purchasing the niche in the columbarium. Perpetual care is included in the cost of purchasing the niche and the opening.

    Opening - There is also a cost for “opening” the niche for receiving of the urn which holds the ashes. (The urn is purchased through the funeral director.) The opening cost is taken at the time of the inurnment.

    Plaque - The solid bronze plaque is purchased at the time of the niche purchase and is an additional cost to the niche.

    What can be engraved?

    On the solid bronze plaque the engraving consists of a family name, two names, dates and a personalized line of text of your choosing from our selection of versus.