The family of faith that is St. Joseph’s Church, offers to you and your family our sincerest love and sympathy during this most difficult time. The loss of a loved one is never easy, so please know that our parish family is praying that our Heavenly Father may send His Holy Spirit to strengthen and console you in your grief.
Though you are brought together by death, the Funeral Mass surrounds us with the symbols of resurrection and new life. In this way, Holy Mother Church reminds us that in Jesus’ victory over death lies our assured hope of eternal life. Just as our deceased loved one was once brought to the saving waters of Baptism, you now bring them for burial. Just as the family of the deceased participated in the Rite of Baptism, you now have the opportunity to participate in their burial.
We invite and encourage you to participate as much as possible in this preparation for, and in the celebration of, the Funeral Mass. It is completely understandable if you would prefer not to do this, and if so, we will do it for you. You might like to meet with the priest or deacon to help you in planning the Mass. Please know that the priests of St. Joseph’s Church will be available to assist you in the planning process. If you choose to participate in the planning of the Funeral Mass, we offer this booklet as a help to you. Please review the following pages and select readings and music that are meaningful to you in light of the life of your loved one.
Please know that we are here to support you in any way possible, not only during this most difficult time, but also in the days and weeks ahead. Please do not hesitate to call on us if there is anything we can do for you.
While the Catholic Church continues to stress the preference for burial or entombment of the body of a deceased, cremation is permitted by the Catholic Church.
With this said, the cremains (ashes) are to be treated with the same respect and dignity of a full body. The cremains of a loved one need to be buried or interred as soon as possible after a Funeral Mass. Cremains should never be displayed or stored in an urn at home or sprinkled over land or water, nor may they be divided among family members and friends. Just as the body is reverently buried, so should the remains be buried reverently with the prayer of the Church. Please speak with one of the parish priests if you have any questions.
Eulogies/ Words of Remembrance
Please be advised that Eulogies/ Words of Remembrance are NOT permitted during the Funeral Liturgy.
The practice of eulogies at Catholic funerals is officially discouraged. In the General Introduction to the Order of Christian Funerals, we are told that a homily is to be given, “but there is never to be a eulogy” (no.27). By a eulogy is meant an elongated narration of the human achievements and qualities of the deceased person. Certainly, homilies have to have a personal quality and the homilist has to connect the readings to the life and death of the deceased. The primary emphasis is always, however on the readings and the symbols of the funeral rite-and most of all on the Cross and resurrection of Christ.
There is certainly a place for the whole genre of presentations that fall under the heading of a eulogy, and this is outside the Funeral Mass, notably at the end of the funeral vigil. The church prescribes that before the end of the vigil, “a member or a friend of the family may speak in remembrance of the deceased” (no.80). Also when the vigil is completed, there is a place for additional talks. Another obvious place for eulogies about the deceased is at gravesite or the luncheon that generally follows the funeral.
The rationale is that eulogies are often considered the centerpiece of the service, and therefore detract from the mass and its central message, which is the Christian meaning of death.