Our parish families are sorry for your loss. We want you to know that we are praying for the repose of the soul of your deceased loved one and for you who mourn. The Church’s funeral rites are a beautiful way to commend the souls of the faithful departed to the Lord and to receive healing and strength.

When planning the funeral rites, please remember that the Church’s funeral rites are not able to accommodate requests that are outside the options provided. While each funeral liturgy can be curtailed to the individual for whom it is celebrated through these options, it cannot be crafted to include everything that is special to the deceased or those who mourn because it is a liturgy of the Church. Celebrations of life outside the Church’s funeral rites (e.g., receptions, etc.), however, can include whatever is desired. 

Be assured of our prayers and support. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace until we are all reunited together in the Lord.

Funeral Masses take place at 9:30AM on a weekday (or Saturday).

Please contact the parish office to schedule a Funeral Mass.

Planning the Funeral Rites

“At the death of a Christian whose life of faith was begun in the waters of Baptism and strengthened at the Eucharistic table, the Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased because of its confident belief that death is not the end nor does it break the bonds forged in life. The Church also ministers to the sorrowing and consoles them in the funeral rites with the comforting Word of God and the Sacrament of the Eucharist.” (Order of Christian Funerals, 4).

“The Church through its funeral rites commends the dead to God’s merciful love and pleads for the forgiveness of their sins. The celebration of the Christian funeral brings hope and consolation to the living” (OCF, 6-7).

The Funeral Rites

Vigil – Mass – Committal

“At the Vigil, the Christian community keeps watch with the family in prayer 

to the God of mercy and finds strength in Christ’s presence” (OCF, 56).

“At the funeral liturgy (Mass) the community gathers with the family and friends of the deceased 

to give praise and thanks to God for Christ’s victory over sin and death, 

to commend the deceased to God’s tender mercy and compassion, 

and to seek strength in the proclamation of the Paschal Mystery” (OCF, 129).

“In committing the body to its resting place, the community expresses the hope that, 

with all those who have gone before marked with the sign of faith, 

the deceased awaits the glory of the resurrection” (OCF, 206).

We encourage families of the deceased to permit their loved ones and those who mourn their loss 

to benefit from the observance of the funeral rites, in particular, the Mass of Christian Burial. 

Readings

“A careful selection and use of readings from Scripture for the funeral rites will provide the family and the community with an opportunity to hear God speak to them in their needs, sorrows, fears, and hopes” (OCF, 22).

 “The biblical readings may not be replaced by nonbiblical readings” (OCF, 23).

“Those designated to proclaim the Word of God should prepare themselves to exercise this ministry” (OCF, 24).

“The reading of Scripture during a Eucharistic celebration in the Catholic Church is to be done by members of that Church. On exceptional occasions and for a just cause, the Bishop of the diocese may permit a member of another Church or ecclesial Community to take on the task of reader” (Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism, 133).

Families of the deceased are not required to select the readings for the funeral liturgy. 

If they wish to do so, they may select those that speak to them from the options provided by the Church. 

Those who wish and are able to proclaim a reading from Sacred Scripture 

will be provided a copy of the reading to help them prepare as well as directions to help them proclaim it. 

Music

“The texts of the songs chosen should express the Paschal Mystery of the Lord’s suffering, Death, 

and triumph over death and should be related to the readings from Scripture” (OCF, 30).

Families of the deceased are not required to select the music for the funeral liturgy.

If they wish to do so, they may select sacred music from the options provided by the parish. 

Secular music is not permitted at the funeral liturgy.

 Music for the funeral liturgy is performed live by the parish musicians. Recorded music is not permitted. 

Visiting musicians may assist provided that they are professionally trained, familiar with the funeral liturgy, 

and compensated by the family of the deceased. 

Symbols

“Only Christian symbols may rest on or be placed near the coffin during the funeral liturgies” (OCF, 38).

Holy Communion

Those who are Catholic and practicing their faith are invited to come forward for the reception of 

Holy Communion. All others present are certainly welcome and invited to join the Church at prayer 

during the reception of Holy Communion for the repose of the soul of the deceased 

and for a greater unity with one another in the Lord. (See, Code of Canon Law, c. 844)

Words of Remembrance

After the Prayer after Communion and before the Final Commendation, 

“A member or a friend of the family may speak in remembrance of the deceased” (OCF, 170).

The words of remembrance recall the faith of the deceased. Only one person may offer them. They are to be no more than five minutes in length, written out, and submitted for review no later than twenty-four hours before the funeral liturgy.

Burial

“By burying the bodies of the faithful, the Church confirms her faith in the resurrection of the body, 

and intends to show the great dignity of the human body. Furthermore, burial in a cemetery or another sacred place adequately corresponds to the piety and respect owed to the bodies of the faithful departed who through Baptism have become temples of the Holy Spirit. Finally, the burial of the faithful departed in cemeteries 

or other sacred places encourages family members and the whole Christian community to pray for 

and remember the dead” (Instruction Ad resurgendum cum Christo, 3).

Deportment

Families of the deceased are respectfully asked to arrive on time, dress appropriately, 

silence cell phones and electronic devices, maintain an atmosphere of prayer, 

and refrain from bringing drinks, food, etc. into the church.

Accompaniment

Our parish family is humbled to be able to accompany the families of the deceased through our prayers, 

by providing assistance with planning and celebrating the funeral liturgy, and by offering

hospitality (brunch, luncheon, etc.) when parish facilities and volunteers are available. 

Encouragement

Options that are not permitted at the funeral liturgy (e.g., nonbiblical readings, secular music, multiple and lengthy eulogies, etc.) can always be incorporated into the Vigil, Committal, and hospitality (e.g., funeral luncheon).

“Indeed, for your faithful, Lord, life is changed, not ended” (Roman Missal, Preface I). Families and friends of the deceased are encouraged to continue to pray for the repose of their souls and for the gift of God’s consolation.

Receptions

Both parishes offer receptions after the Mass of Christian Burial as the parish calendar allows 

and depending on whether the parish halls are available.

Volunteers offer various selections to choose from. It is also possible to bring food in from a caterer.

A free will offering depending on the number of people attending and the menu selected is suggested. 

Bereavement 

Both parishes offer grief support through materials that are sent and through groups that meet monthly. 

Divine Mercy

Healing through Openness, Prayer, and Encouragement (H.O.P.E.)

Bereavement Group

Meets the first Monday of the Month

at 5:00 PM unless otherwise

notified in the bulletin.

Gifts In Memoriam

Please consider naming the parish as a beneficiary of memorial gifts, particularly when the deceased was an active member of the parish. Memorial gifts can be given to the parish in general or to a specific ministry at the parish.

Sacred Heart

“Memorial contributions may be made to the parish of Sacred Heart

(for (e.g., youth ministry, Anna’s food pantry, the building fund)).”

Divine Mercy

“Memorial contributions may be made to the parish of Divine Mercy

and The Mission of Saint Bernadette

(for (e.g., youth ministry, the food pantry, the building fund)).”