Funerals
An important part of our pastoral work is to help you arrange the funeral for your loved one. Many people who attend a Catholic funeral for the first time will often remark how beautiful it is. Our funeral rites are not “a celebration of life,” as they are referred to sometimes, but a privileged opportunity to return to God the gift of the deceased, hoping to usher them into paradise with the aid of our prayers.
The first phone call you make, after connecting with your family, should be to the funeral home where arrangements have been made. The funeral home will then contact the parish and make any needed arrangements with the pastor. Generally the funeral home takes care of all the practical matters, where the parish will help you plan the liturgy/funeral.
Once the date, time and place have been arranged with the funeral home and the parish, the pastor or deacon will schedule a time to sit down with members of the family to learn how this moment can be most meaningful. During that discussion, we hope to hear more about the life of the deceased, help you determine readings, music, liturgical ministers (lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Gift Bearers and servers for Mass) and answer any questions you may have.
In its fullest form there are three parts to a Roman Catholic funeral:
Special readings from sacred scripture are proclaimed. Typically, there are two readings taken from the Old Testament and New Testament, a Psalm (usually sung) and a Gospel reading. A family member or friend usually proclaims the first and second reading, a cantor usually proclaims the Psalm and a priest or deacon proclaims the Gospel.
Special hymns are chosen to be part of the funeral Mass. The pastor will speak with members of the family prior to the funeral to find music that represents the life of the deceased as well as the traditions of the Church. The parish office will arrange for a choir to sing the parts of the Mass along with your chosen hymns.
We will also arrange for a funeral reception with our Catholic Women’s League following the funeral if you wish. Funerals are emotionally draining and most people will welcome the opportunity to relax and reminisce informally at a reception. Often this is the place for the display of photos, favorite music and sharing of personal memories of the person who has died in ways that are helpful to the bereaved family and friends.
The first phone call you make, after connecting with your family, should be to the funeral home where arrangements have been made. The funeral home will then contact the parish and make any needed arrangements with the pastor. Generally the funeral home takes care of all the practical matters, where the parish will help you plan the liturgy/funeral.
Once the date, time and place have been arranged with the funeral home and the parish, the pastor or deacon will schedule a time to sit down with members of the family to learn how this moment can be most meaningful. During that discussion, we hope to hear more about the life of the deceased, help you determine readings, music, liturgical ministers (lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Gift Bearers and servers for Mass) and answer any questions you may have.
In its fullest form there are three parts to a Roman Catholic funeral:
- Vigil or wake, usually the evening before the funeral;
- A funeral Mass (at the church) or a funeral service (at the funeral home); and
- The committal (interment) which takes place at the cemetery or crematorium.
Special readings from sacred scripture are proclaimed. Typically, there are two readings taken from the Old Testament and New Testament, a Psalm (usually sung) and a Gospel reading. A family member or friend usually proclaims the first and second reading, a cantor usually proclaims the Psalm and a priest or deacon proclaims the Gospel.
Special hymns are chosen to be part of the funeral Mass. The pastor will speak with members of the family prior to the funeral to find music that represents the life of the deceased as well as the traditions of the Church. The parish office will arrange for a choir to sing the parts of the Mass along with your chosen hymns.
We will also arrange for a funeral reception with our Catholic Women’s League following the funeral if you wish. Funerals are emotionally draining and most people will welcome the opportunity to relax and reminisce informally at a reception. Often this is the place for the display of photos, favorite music and sharing of personal memories of the person who has died in ways that are helpful to the bereaved family and friends.