Planning a Catholic Funeral
at St. Bonaventure Church
Selection of Readings
A priest will help families select appropriate Bible passages for the Funeral Mass using the booklet “Through Death to Life” by Joseph M. Champlin. Family members or friends may serve as lectors. Those chosen to read should be comfortable with public speaking.
Music
A priest will help families select appropriate music for the Funeral Mass using a list of approved songs provided by St. Bonaventure Music Ministry. Since sung music within the funeral rites is “sung prayer,” secular music (live or recorded) is not permitted during funeral liturgies. An instrumentalist, a cantor, and even a choir, where possible, should assist the full participation of the assembly in the songs, responses, and acclamations of the funeral rites.
Words of Remembrance
The Funeral Rites provide the opportunity to share words of remembrance about the deceased. The remembrance should concentrate on the loved one’s faith and hope in Jesus Christ. Words should be brief, less than five minutes, written and reviewed by the presider beforehand. At the Funeral Mass there should not be more than two speakers. The following is necessary information when planning your loved one's funeral:
People needed
q 2 people for readings and intercessions
q 2 people for gifts
q Family members for the pall
q Contact phone numbers
q Arrive 30 minutes before the funeral
Flowers
q If it is expected there would an abundance of flowers you may want to have a charity in mind in lieu of flowers.
Pictures
q One approximately 8 x 10 and a small one for the memory board.
Biography with the following information
q Where Born
q Baptized
q Heritage
q Schools
q Careers and where worked
q Married – how long
q Children and names
q Grandchildren and names
q Characteristics
q Hobbies
q Died (when, sick how long)
q Anointed
If deceased is to be cremated – cremation takes a minimum of 5 days to obtain the ashes.
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Information to help you when meeting with the Priest to plan the funeral for your loved one.
- A family member or friend may be invited by the Priest to come forward prior to the beginning of the funeral Mass to say a few words of remembrance (not to exceed five minutes or one page of typewritten material).
- A funeral Mass may be celebrated in the morning, afternoon or on some weekday evening depending on the availability of the Church and Priest.
- The Scriptural and Vigil service is the preferred form community prayer the night or day before the Funeral Mass and may be held in the mortuary or in the church.
- The Rosary may also be prayed in the Church or mortuary.
- The family is invited to choose the Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospel readings during the funeral planning meeting. A book of various readings will be made available for review at this time.
- Normally the Responsorial Psalm is sung and is chosen by the Music Director. If the family has a preference the Music Director will try to accommodate them.
- Family members or friends may read the Old Testament Reading, New Testament Reading, and the Funeral intercessions. Copies of the chosen readings will be made available so that the readers will be able to practice the readings, and acquaint themselves with the microphone before Mass begins. Scripture readings are read from the ambo (pulpit).
- The family will also be asked to choose gift presenters.
- The gifts of bread and wine may be brought to the altar by members of the family or by friends.
- If a large number of people are expected to receive Communion an additional Eucharistic Minister will be prepared to assist.
- The priest may extend to the congregation an invitation to accompany the family to the cemetery if burial is after the Mass.
- The priest will notify you of all fees for services.
For information about Cemeteries
Catholic Cemeteries