By CASEY NEILL
SPRINGVALE’S new Saint Padre Pio Mausoleum honours a much-loved Italian saint and caters for special burial traditions.
The Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart officially opened the Springvale Botanical Cemetery facility before almost 200 guests last Tuesday, 26 May.
Not for profit organisation Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) manages the cemetery.
SMCT CEO Jane Grover said the mausoleum featured natural light, bluestone and terrazzo gallery floors, a sheltered open air central court yard with hedge-lined gardens, a water feature, pine trees and a life-sized bronze statue of Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina.
The mausoleum is a traditional burial method for Italians, particularly those from southern Italy, and ensures that soil does not touch the body.
Most of the mausoleum’s 256 burial crypts are already sold.
“We developed this mausoleum after listening to Victoria’s Italian Catholic community,” Ms Grover said.
“We are proud to be offering our Italian community a beautiful, relevant space to honour and celebrate the lives of the loved ones entrusted to our care.”
Saint Padre Pio Mausoleum is the third built at Springvale Botanical Cemetery in the past 20 years.
Mausolea are also located at SMCT’s Melbourne General and Brighton General cemeteries, Cheltenham Memorial Park and at Bangholme’s Bunurong Memorial Park.
