Beauty, serenity and peace
Saint John’s AbbeyCollegeville, Minnesota
Saint John’s Preparatory School
Saint John’s University
Liturgical Press
The 2,000-acre campus of Saint John’s Abbey is home to Saint John’s Prep School, Saint John’s University, the Liturgical Press and the Abbey itself. The original cemetery, which opened in 1869, has a section for the monks and for parishioners of the Abbey church. The cemetery expansion includes two new areas that more than double the total space and are specifically for “alumni and friends of the Abbey community,” including non-Catholics. The services of Jack Goodnoe, Cemetery Planner, from Ann Arbor, MI, were enlisted for this expansion. The two new cemetery areas, which are located on the south side of the old cemetery and overlook Lake Sagatagan, provide for traditional in-ground burial and in-ground cremation burial and also include two columbarium courts with wall niches for cremated remains. Thomas Oslund, FASLA, FAAR, the well-known Minneapolis landscape architect, designed the project. After careful consideration, the Abbey selected Eickhof Columbaria, Inc. to build the columbarium niches. “Working with Paul Eickhof was a pleasure. For example, he was gentle in helping us think through cremation,” says Brother Benedict Leuthner, OSB, the Abbey treasurer. The architect has provided for the future. There is space for an additional three sections to the Hillside columbarium and two sections to the Court. The overall feel of the cemetery is one of beauty, serenity and peace. “It very much provides a sense of place,” notes Brother Benedict.
A view of St. John’s Court from the Hillside.
The richness and simplicity of the granite free-standing columbarium walls create a special sense of place.
