FUNERALS

In Funeral Masses, in visits to the cemetery, and in our persistent prayers and Masses for our deceased loved ones, we give expression to our grieving and grow through sadness into more attentive lives of faith.  During this time of sadness, we offer our prayers for you and your family, remembering that Jesus the Redeemer is our hope for resurrected life for our loved ones!

As our Bishop wrote in his Sixth Festival Letter: 

"Except in the most extraordinary circumstances, every Catholic who dies should have a Mass for Christian Burial offered on their behalf.  Internment in consecrated ground is preferred in our Catholic tradition because it testifies to our belief in the sanctity of the body and our faith in the promise of resurrection.  Cremation is allowed but preferably only after a Funeral Mass is celebrated with the body present.  Memorial Masses with ashes brought into church are also allowed, but the ashes of the dead should ideally then be interred in a cemetery."

Bishop Jenky's 6th Festival Letter can be found in its entirety at Solemnity of the Epiphany - Prayers for the Dead, where you will find helpful information to help you plan for the Funeral Liturgy.  Pertinent information regarding Bereavements and Funerals may also be found at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website.

Funeral Planning Guide
This guide provides a format for completing the suggested information that you should bring with you when the meet with the priest. 

Funeral Mass Readings 
Normally, the first reading is taken from the Old Testament, the Psalm is sung by our cantor, the second reading is taken from the Pastoral Letters in the New Testament, and the Gospel is chosen by the celebrant.  During the Easter season, New Testament readings may be used for the first and second reading.

Funeral Prayers of the Faithful 
The Prayers of the Faithful can be found at the following link Prayers of the Faithful . They can be slightly adapted, if you choose.  

Funeral Music Suggestions 
Please choose four songs from the list of appropriate songs for a funeral, which are sung by our cantors and choir.  Any other suggestions must be reviewed with the priest during the planning process; keep in mind that all songs must be religious in nature, as well as commonly known and easy for people to sing. 

Words of Remembrance: 
It is the hope of the Church that the Funeral Liturgy provide an uplifting moment of grace in God's divine love, so comments about the deceased are best reserved for the wake the night before, at the funeral luncheon or at some other gathering.  With the permission of the pastor/celebrant, a member of the family may speak.  The comments need to be less than five minutes and share the hope and spiritual strength which the person exhibited.

Funeral Luncheons: 
Farrell Hall or McCarthy Hall may be reserved for funeral lunches. Your Funeral Director will contact the Parish to see which hall is available. You must line up your own caterer.  The Altar & Rosary Society supplies coffee and lemonade, as well as set up and clean up. 

We hope that this information will help you and your family to plan for this rich moment of grace, healing and closure as we pray farewell to our loved ones, not forever, but only momentarily, until we all meet in Christ for eternity.