Funeral and Memorial Planning
When a loved one dies, your parish is here to assist you with all the details for a funeral or memorial service. Contact the parish office to begin the process and know that you will be in our prayers.
Biblical Readings and Music Selections for the Funeral Liturgy
A lay minister from Holy Family will assist you with making your selections for the Mass of Christian Burial (Funeral Liturgy). These readings are provided to give you additional time to reflect on the options and also to make it possible for family members who may be far away to view them. There are additional readings available for the death of a child. Please ask us if you need more information.
"In every celebration for the dead, the Church attaches great importance to the reading of the word of God. The readings proclaim to the assembly the Paschal Mystery, teach remembrance of the dead, convey the hope of being gathered together again in God's kingdom, and encourage the witness of Christian life. Above all, the readings tell of God's designs for a world in which suffering and death will relinquish their hold on all whom God has called his own. A careful selection and use of readings from Scripture for the funeral rites will provide the family with an opportunity to hear God speak to them in their needs, sorrows, fears, and hopes.
In the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word at the funeral liturgy, the Biblical readings may not be replaced by nonbiblical readings. But during prayer services with the family nonbiblical readings may be used in addition to readings from Scripture." (from the Order of Christian Funerals, General Introduction, nos. 22-23.)
First Reading - Easter Season (New Testament)
Second Reading - New Testament
What is a Catholic Funeral - Part 1
1) to entrust the soul of the departed to God
2) to pray for the forgiveness of their sins
3) to pray for their entrance into the Kingdom
4) to pray for the living who love the one who has died and ask the Lord
