Funeral Information

There are three parts of a Funeral Rite. Families may choose to have all three parts or just select the ones that are needed.

• Vigil for the Deceased or “Vigil”
  • Taking the form of a Liturgy of the Word, the Vigil consists of scripture readings, a brief reflection, intercessions, and prayers. Its focus is on the Word of God as the family experiences death and their subsequent grief. The Vigil is also an appropriate place for family and friends to offer their own words or stories (eulogy).

• The Funeral Liturgy
  • The clear focus in the funeral liturgy is not to keep alive the memory of the deceased but rather God’s abiding presence and the wonders of his grace in the saving death and resurrection of Jesus, in which we participate through our baptism and lives of discipleship.

• Rite of Committal
  • It is celebrated at the site of the internment of the body or the cremated remains. It is also an expression of communion between the Church on earth and the Church in Heaven, allowing the deceased to pass from the community of mourners into the community of those who are already with God.

• We recommend that everyone contact a Funeral Home before contacting Our Lady Star of the Sea. The Funeral Home is intended to assist families in planning for all parts of a funeral. Between the funeral director and the church, we are able to schedule the funeral without the family as the middleman.

  If the family is not working with a Funeral Home, they may contact the Church directly. But know that we are not able to assist with the cremation or the Cemetery, and do not have guest books or prayer cards to print.

• Please fill out this form completely - Deceased information Form -

• Please contact the Church to set up a meeting with Our Funeral Coordinator, to schedule and plan a funeral.
• Funerals in the church are scheduled for 10:00am, 10:30am (Fridays during School year)
  • The family may elect to have the body in state in the gathering space 30 minutes before the funeral Liturgy.

• The Scripture service or Wake service is conducted by someone from the pastoral staff or a wake minister who has been trained in this ministry.
  • The appropriate time and place for personal reflections and/or eulogy commemorating the life of the deceased are during the wake service. This would also be appropriate time to play favorite non-liturgical music.
  • The structure of the vigil usually include a call to prayer, in word or song, a proclamation of the word of God, prayers of intercession and concludes with a blessing. It is commonly known as a scripture service.
  • Devotional prayers, such as the Rosary or parts of the Rosary are private prayers and should be done during the family hour of visitation.
  
  
  Funeral Mass/Service
  • The family is encouraged to participate fully in the funeral liturgy. Remember when planning the Mass, we are praying for the soul of the deceased and not proclaiming their life.
  • The clear focus in the funeral liturgy is not to keep alive the memory of the deceased but rather God’s abiding presence and the wonders of his grace in the saving death and resurrection of Jesus, in which we participate through our baptism and lives of discipleship.
  • A Catholic funeral is already planned for you through the Order of Catholic Funerals, you just need to make selections for Readings and music, from the links below. Please choose one reading from the Old Testament and one reading from the New Testament.
    • Reading Selections
    • Prayers of the Faithful
    • Homily Helps - for Priest to personalize homily
    • Care should be exercised in choosing readers for the liturgy, they should be a participating Catholic who can remain poised and who are comfortable with the readings. We ask that they be over the age of 16 years old.
• The priest, celebrant, will choose the Gospel.

• Mass with or without cremains – although the Catholic teaching continues to stress the preference for burial or entombment of the body or the deceased, cremation is now permitted. The Church clearly prefers and urges that the body of the deceased be present for its funeral rites and the cremation take place after the full funeral liturgy with the body. With special permission, however, the bishops of the United States and the Holy See have authorized the celebration of a Catholic funeral liturgy with the cremated remains when the body is cremated before the funeral.
  • If the body is cremated before the funeral liturgy, the gathering space may be used for a memorial visitation 30 mins prior to the funeral Liturgy. The Cremated Remains will be enclosed in an Ossuary
  • The Order of Christian Funerals clearly states that an appropriate, worthy container, such as a classic urn is proper, for the cremated remains. During the Funeral/Liturgy the cremated cremains will be placed in the ossuary and will not be left on a table with pictures and flowers.
  • The remains are to be properly interned in a cemetery or columbarium. (Order of Christian Funerals. #417)
  • The practice of scattering cremated remained in the sea, on the ground or keeping the remains in the home are not the reverent disposition that the church requires.
• The family should select appropriate music from the music sheets provided. The parish provides an organist.
  • Funeral Music Planning

• There is no set “fee” for a funeral liturgy. However, it is customary for a donation to be made to the parish, an average donations for an active parishioner has been $200, depending on family and parish circumstances. Any additional gifts of appreciation to the clergy, , etc. are based upon your discretion and generosity.
• The Music Minister's fee is $150. This includes the music minister playing the organ, piano and singing. Cantor and other musicians can be arranged for additional fees. We are happy to help set this up.
• Additional donations to any other parish organization are up to each individual family.

Luncheon

• Your loved one will be included in the Prayers of the Faithful at all the weekend Masses to be prayed for by our parish community.

• The grieving process is different for each person and can be affected by many factors. Members of our Pastoral Team are available to meet with you to help you through your grieving process for information on our - Seeing the Light of Day support group please visit Bereavement Information

• Each year on or around All Soul’s Day, our parish celebrates a Mass of Remembrance for all those who have been buried from our parish during the last year. In October, you will receive a special invite to join us for this Mass. During the Mass, you will have the opportunity to light a candle in his or her memory.