Saint Katharine Drexel Memorial Garden at Bloomfield-Clemson
Frederick MarylandAbout the Garden
A Sacred and Historic Place
The Saint Katharine Drexel Memorial Garden is a sacred and peaceful place dedicated exclusively to the inurnment of cremated remains within beautiful columbarium niches and natural burial urn garden, honoring the historic legacy of this consecrated ground while offering families a place for prayer, remembrance, and visitation.
Located on our parish grounds, the Saint Katharine Drexel Memorial Garden is a consecrated space dedicated exclusively to the reverent in inurnment of cremated remains.
More than a cemetery, this space is part of the daily life of our parish — a place to walk, to pray, to remember, and to entrust our loved ones to the promise of the Resurrection.
Established as the first cremation-only Catholic cemetery in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the Memorial Garden reflects both faithful tradition and the pastoral needs of Catholics today. Within this sacred setting, families may choose to have their loved one’s ashes placed in above-ground columbarium niches or in our natural in-ground burial area.
Burial Options
Two Ways to Be Remembered
The Memorial Garden offers two distinct options for final placement, each reflecting a commitment to beauty, dignity, and peace.
Columbarium Niches
Our Memorial Garden includes five above-ground columbaria, each represented by a significant figure in our Catholic tradition:
- Virgin of the Assumption
- Saint Joseph
- Risen Christ
- Saint Charles Lwanga
- Saint Peter
Each columbarium contains 72 niches.
Niche dimensions: 11.5″ x 11.5″ x 11.5″.
Each niche may accommodate up to two urns.
Every niche includes:
- Engraved memorial plaque
- Perpetual care of the Memorial Garden
Natural Burial
The natural burial area is thoughtfully designed in six circular bands, forming a unified and prayerful setting within the garden landscape. This option reflects simplicity, reverence, and a return to the earth, while fully honoring Catholic burial teaching and the dignity of the human person.
- 114 individual burial spaces, each identified by a corresponding letter and number
- Each designated space corresponds to a memorial plaque bearing the names of those inurned in this section
- Each burial space accommodates one urn
- A reduced rate is available when purchasing more than one space
Every space includes:
- Engraved memorial plaque
- A biodegradable urn
Pricing
Reserving Your Space
The following pricing reflects our commitment to offering families a dignified and accessible option for final placement. Financing options are available for parishioners.
Columbarium Niches
Upper Tier
| Niche | $4,400 |
| Memorial Plaque (1–2 names) | $895 |
| Total | $5,295 |
| Open/Close Fee* | $250 |
Middle Tier
| Niche | $4,200 |
| Memorial Plaque (1–2 names) | $895 |
| Total | $5,095 |
| Open/Close Fee* | $250 |
Lower Tier
| Niche | $4,000 |
| Memorial Plaque (1–2 names) | $895 |
| Total | $4,895 |
| Open/Close Fee* | $250 |
*Open/Close fee includes opening and closing the granite niche door and installing the memorial plaque. Fee is due at time of interment and subject to change.
Natural Burial
Single Space
| Burial Space | $3,000 |
| Memorial Plaque | $695 |
| Total | $3,695 |
| Open/Close Fee* | $650 |
Two Spaces
| Two Burial Spaces | $3,785 |
| Two Memorial Plaques | $1,390 |
| Total | $5,175 |
| Open/Close Fee* | $650 |
*Open/Close fee includes opening and closing one in-ground site, turf repair and installation of memorial plaque. Fee is due when services are rendered and subject to change.
Rooted in History
The Legacy of Bloomfield Clemson
The original Bloomfield-Clemson family cemetery holds the remains of approximately twenty-five individuals, including:
- Two Union Civil War casualties
- A Union veteran
- Revolutionary War veteran Mathias Bartis
- Early Frederick families whose names helped shape our local history
When the parish and school were built, the burial ground was intentionally preserved. Through careful historical research, ground-penetrating radar, and meticulous restoration, the graves were identified, protected, and integrated into a renewed sacred landscape.
White granite pillars now mark historic burial locations, and original headstones have been reverently incorporated into the entrance wall — ensuring those who came before us remain visible and honored.
The past anchors this place – the present gives it new life.
A Garden Designed for Prayer
A Place of Encounter
The Memorial Garden was intentionally designed not simply for interment, but for encounter.
Visitors walk along the winding Memorial Path, carefully aligned to preserve tree roots and historic graves. Along the way, they encounter:
- Five freestanding columbaria, each identified by a statue of a significant saint
- 114 in-ground urn burial sites & ceremonial gathering area
- Seasonal native plantings that bloom throughout the year
- Quiet seating areas for prayer and reflection
- A 35-foot prayer labyrinth
- A 15-foot white oak cross, flame-finished and preserved in the traditional manner
- A sacred memorial honoring unborn children
Enclosed by thoughtful landscaping, the garden offers privacy, reverence, and peace in every season.
The Garden
See It For Yourself
We invite you to visit the Memorial Garden in person — but until then, we hope these images offer a sense of the beauty and peace that awaits.
We’re Here to Help
Schedule a Visit or Request Information
We would be honored to walk alongside you as you consider the Memorial Garden for yourself or a loved one. Our team is available to answer questions, schedule a personal tour, or simply sit with you in the garden.
Parish Office: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Call: 301-360-9581
Email: stkatharinedrexel@saintdrexel.org