Frequently Asked Questions: The Funeral Liturgy

The funeral director (funeral home) will work with the family and St. Paul Parish to set up the details of date and time of the funeral liturgy including visitation, funeral Mass or liturgy,  and interment. Normally, after news of death, the funeral home is contacted first.  The funeral home will then contact St. Paul parish office to determine possible times and dates for a funeral liturgy.  The family will meet with the funeral director and confirm the date/time.  A member of St. Paul Parish Bereavement Ministry will then contact the family to arrange a meeting for planning the funeral Mass/Service including readings, music, and other details. 

If the family is not using a funeral director then the family should contact the Parish Office to arrange date and time.  A member of St. Paul Parish Bereavement Ministry will then contact the family to arrange a meeting for planning the funeral Mass/Service including readings, music, and other details. Parish Office hours can be found on the Parish website.

The Rite of Christian Burial has three rites: The Vigil for the Deceased (Wake); Funeral Liturgy (Mass); and Committal (Cemetery). The Vigil generally takes place at the funeral home or may take place in the church (according to Diocesan guidelines). It is followed by the celebration of the Funeral Mass and continues with prayers of committal at the cemetery. While interment most often occurs immediately following the Funeral Liturgy, there are cases where a short interval is necessary.

The Church encourages a Funeral Mass for a deceased Catholic, with the body present.   If there is question about whether a liturgy without Mass might be more appropriate, a Funeral Service may be conducted in the Funeral Home.  If there is a question as to what would be more appropriate, a priest or deacon is available to discuss this with the family.

A Funeral Mass can still be held when circumstances make it difficult, impractical or impossible to have the body or the cremains of the deceased present. In this instance, a Memorial Mass is held in place of a Funeral Mass.

A situation where a Mass is not appropriate is rare. Some circumstances where people often have questions include:

A Child who has died before Baptism:  A Mass can always be celebrated for a child who has died, even without baptism.  Appropriate prayers are used if the child was not baptized.

An infant who is stillborn: The consolation of the funeral liturgy can be offered for the parents of stillborn or miscarried infants. The appropriate rites and texts are used from the Order of Christian Funerals.

Funerals for non-Catholics: A Catholic funeral may be celebrated for a person who is not a Catholic, as long as this would not offend the sensibilities of the deceased or of those who attend.  This situation often occurs when the living spouse is Catholic, and the spouse who died had a great appreciation of the Catholic faith.

A person who has taken their own life: The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that we should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. For this reason, then, the Church no longer forbids funeral rites or burial to Catholics who have committed suicide.

The grieving process necessarily includes time to remember the life of the deceased loved one. In the Catholic funeral rite, there is an opportunity for a Remembrance to be given by a member of the family or a friend. Unlike a eulogy, the remembrance is an opportunity for the family member or friend to focus on the loved one's faith and hope in Jesus Christ. Click here for guidelines for preparing and delivering a remembrance.

St. Paul does request that a fee/donation be offered to the church. This covers the services of the parish staff (organist, cantor, facilities) and the seasonal operating expenses of the church. When working with a funeral home, this cost is itemized by the funeral director. In case of financial hardship, this donation/fee may be waived.   

Since1997, the Church has granted permission for cremated remains to be present during the funeral liturgy (funeral mass). Although permitting Catholics to choose cremation, the Church prefers that the body of the deceased be present for the funeral rites, since the presence of the human body better expresses the values which the Church affirms in the funeral rites. It is the preference of the Church that that cremation take place following the funeral liturgy. More information can be found by clicking here.