Important Information for Funerals
at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
1. CONTACT WITH PARISH FOR FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:
Arrangements for Funeral Services with or without Mass must be made with the Priest, as only he knows the feasibility as to day and time - the Secretary will facilitate this contact. After the Family has visited the Funeral Home for Funeral arrangements, the Funeral Director will then contact the Priest to confirm the arrangements for the time and day of the Funeral Service. The Parish will be in contact with the family in preparation for a Wake Service and the Funeral Liturgy. The Parish will make arrangements for all aspects of the Funeral Service including readers, music, organist and Eucharistic Minister, if necessary. A funeral, without Mass, will be celebrated for all inactive Catholics and estranged families. No funerals from this Parish are celebrated in the Funeral Home.
Cremation: Families are encouraged, by the Church, to bring the body to the church and then to have cremation take place after the Funeral Liturgy. A Funeral Service, with the Ashes present, is allowed in Canada with the Bishop’s permission. The ashes are placed to the side at the front of the church.
2. TIME AND DAYS:
A Funeral with or without Mass may be celebrated any day except Sundays, holy days of obligation, Holy Thursday, and during the Easter triduum. Burials do not normally take place on these days. The Priest will arrange time of Funeral Service. A funeral should not be delayed beyond 4 days, except in extreme circumstances. Due to other commitments on Saturday afternoons, there will be no Saturday afternoon Services or Burials. Please note: the burial of ashes, apart from the Funeral Mass, will not take place on a Saturday because of other commitments of the Priest.
3. HONORARIUMS/OFFERINGS:
The Diocesan Policy on Offerings for Funeral Services is $150.00 (plus organist). However, the actual direct expenses for the parish are over $150.00. Thus Families are asked to make an Offering to the Parish for the Funeral Service and the Pastoral Care provided. It is intentionally left open-ended to the generosity of those concerned. No person is refused Pastoral Services for financial reasons.
4. LITURGICAL MUSIC:
It is the intent and spirit of liturgical celebrations of the Catholic Church that the liturgy of the Funeral Service be focused on our baptismal union in the life, death and the hope and promise of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the music must express this meaning; hymns that do not are considered inappropriate. Families may request particular hymns for a Funeral Service, but the Choir Director/Organist will be contacted and has the responsibility to make the judgment of appropriateness based on liturgical principles and whether the Choir is familiar with the requested hymn.
The Parish Choir volunteers to lead the community in celebrating Funeral Services. This is a service that is offered to every parishioner without distinction. Parishioners and others are welcome to join the Choir on the occasion of a Funeral; however, no other individual or group will replace the Parish Choir.
5. Readings for the Service will always be taken from the official Lectionary of the Catholic Church and will be read by our funeral Lectors unless the family wishes to have a family member/friend read who is familiar with and trained for reading at our Catholic liturgy - discuss with your priest.
6. EULOGIES / FLAGS
The eulogizing of the Deceased Individual is not the purpose and nature of the liturgical celebration of the Funeral Rite, nor of the homily that is to reflect the Scriptures. A Eulogy is not part of the Funeral Rite of the Catholic Church. Families are encouraged to use other alternate occasions to express their praise and esteem for the deceased. (See below)
Flags, insignias, flowers, etc are to be removed from the coffin at the entrance of the church. They may be replaced after the coffin has been taken from the church. The Funeral pall is placed on the coffin at the door of the church to symbolize the person’s Christian dignity, and without distinction.
7. WORDS OF REMEMBRANCE:
It is good that we remember those who have died, pray for them and express our love and farewell. The Guidelines for Funerals in Canada and the Diocese of Pembroke (pick up guideline) encourages “Words of Remembrance” in the Funeral Home, at the grave side, or at a family reception following the Funeral Liturgy. These Words are not a Eulogy, that is, the “high praise” of a person’s personality or life accomplishments, nor are they an attempt to express everything about a person’s life. Poetry is not appropriate for this setting.
These Words of Remembrance may include a brief biography, but must also emphasize the ways in which the Deceased lived his/her vocation as a Catholic. This may include anecdotal memories that illustrate Christian values. Working together, the family prepares a written text of 2 to 3 minutes in length. The text must be delivered by one person only and its content should be known to the Priest in advance so he may judge its appropriateness for the setting, its length, and make any recommendations.
8. LUNCHES AFTER FUNERALS:
Families may prefer to receive Relatives and Friends at home. Active Registered Parishioners of Our Lady of Sorrows have the option of having a Funeral Luncheon in the Parish Hall, given as a service by the Parish courtesy of the Parishes’ Catholic Women’s League. As this is a service to grieving families, there is no set fee but a commitment to cover costs is expected. A donation to the work of the C.W.L. is appreciated in line with the number of people in attendance at the luncheon.
The Family must make the arrangements at the time of setting the time for the Funeral Service and the Family Representative is to estimate, as accurately as possible, the number to be prepared for.
9. OFFERING FOR MASSES/MEMORIAL FUND: (by others)
Diocesan schedule for Mass offerings is $15.00. Masses requested will be returned to a person’s home Parish if requested at time of the offering. Our Parish also has a “Memorial Fund” to which people may make an offering and the Parish will issue an income tax receipt.
10. BURIAL OF NON-CATHOLICS:
Provided their own minister is not available, baptized persons belonging to a non-Catholic Church may, with the Bishops’ permission, be allowed Church Funeral Rites.
11. BUT OUR FAMILY HASN’T ATTENDED CHURCH IN YEARS!
Now is the time to correct the failure of the past to be assured of a Church Funeral Service.
This is the time to take advantage of the Lord’s forgiveness and be assured of the complete reception of the Sacraments of the Church. The Church is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is mediator and the way of salvation; He is present to us in His Body, which is the Church. Those knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ for salvation, would refuse to either enter it or remain in it, cannot be saved (Doc. Vatican II: “The Church’ #14).
12. COMMUNION AT A FUNERAL MASS:
Family members who have been negligent in attendance at Sunday Mass must receive absolution from the priest before receiving communion. Of course, non-Catholics in attendance cannot receive communion.
PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION ON TO YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS SO THAT THEY MAY BE PREPARED. Thanks!