We are deeply sorry for your loss.

Parish of the Holy Eucharist offers up its prayers and extends its condolences to you on the loss of your loved one. This is a time of profound loss and grief.  However, in the Catholic faith there is joy in the belief that a funeral represents the passing of the beloved into eternal life. The Catholic Church has many funeral rites and traditions which will bring great comfort to you at this difficult time.  As you plan the funeral of your loved one, we hope your experience will be filled with much support and care.   Your participation in the planning process will allow the Parish to personalize the Liturgy. A Catholic funeral is structured in such a way as to invite participation by those closest to the deceased. In this way, memories are created as we fulfill the corporal work of mercy by burying the dead and the spiritual work of mercy of praying for the dead. 

First Steps

The parish has a form to guide your planning of the funeral which will be useful to you as you begin to plan.  You may download the funeral planning guide by clicking the button below:
 
Funeral Planning Guide

During the work week, first please contact the Funeral Home handling the arrangements for your loved one.  If you are not working with a Funeral Home, then please call the Front Desk of the Parish of the Holy Eucharist and ask to speak with Kim Lovett who will work with you during business hours, (M-TH, 9-4 pm), to coordinate the funeral of your deceased loved one. Please keep in mind that we are not equipped to handle all that a Funeral Home can provide so expect the process to take a little longer. 


CONTACT US:
Monday - Thursday 9AM - 4PM

• Stop in the office located at Holy Martyrs, 266 Foreside Rd, Falmouth
• Parish Office phone  207-847-6890
• EMAIL:  pothe@portlanddiocese.org

       (please keep in mind that the Parish email is not always checked regularly outside of business hours)

Are you working with a Funeral Home?

Working with a Funeral Director
If you are being assisted by the service of a funeral director, the funeral director will contact the Parish of the Holy Eucharist on your behalf to schedule the funeral, wake, Mass and burial. If you have chosen cremation and are using the service of a funeral director only to arrange for the cremation, you will be in direct contact with the Parish of the Holy Eucharist, bearing in mind that we do not operate 24/7.  Again, please refer to our hours of operation as posted above.
  
Burial, Cremation and Cemetery
The Parish of the Holy Eucharist has a cemetery (Holy Cross Cemetery in Yarmouth, ME). The Parish Office Manager can provide information regarding the availability of graves. 
  
In keeping with our hope in the resurrection of the body, it is expected that cremated remains will be buried in an individual grave or columbaria. Catholic teaching urges us to reverence cremated remains just as we reverence the body. 

Fees
The customary fee for funerals within the Parish of the Holy Eucharist is $350.00. 
This fee includes the use of the church and the services of organist and cantor.  
Additional fees may be incurred at the discretion of the pastor.

If you are not working with a Funeral Home, you shall find below some prompts to get you thinking about what needs to be coordinated.

STEP 1: PROVIDING NAMES OF THOSE WHO WISH TO PLACE THE PALL ON THE CASKET (OPTIONAL CROSS AND BIBLE)   
The pall is the white cloth that covers the casket during a Catholic funeral.  The pall recalls the white garment worn by Catholic Christians at the time of one's baptism.  It may be placed on the casket by family members or friends.  A pall is not placed over cremated remains.  Flags and other insignia may cover the casket before and after the liturgy.  If the deceased has a personal bible and/or cross, family members or loved ones are invited to place these on the casket at the beginning of Mass 

What if the remains are cremated?  If the remains are cremated please communicate if the urn will be present and who will be bringing it to the church so that a table is prepared for reception.

STEP 2: CHOOSING THE FIRST AND SECOND READING AND PROVIDING THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO WILL BE READING THEM DURING THE FUNERAL 
The first step in planning a funeral is to choose the Scripture readings to be read as part of the Liturgy of the Word.  The possible readings for the First and Second Readings are at the links below.

First Reading

Second Reading


Using the Funeral Planning Form, you are asked to choose one option from Sections C and E and also provide the name of person who will be reading each reading.    NOTE: The parish could provide parishioners who could read in the event that there is no one from the family who would like to read. 

STEP 3: CHOOSING THE RESPONSORIAL PSALM  
Please also choose a text for the RESPONSORIAL PSALM  which is proclaimed by the cantor between the First and Second readings.  On the music planning page you will be given 3 options. (link below)

STEP 4: CHOOSING THE GOSPEL READING 
The fourth step is to choose the Gospel reading which will be read by the priest.  Choose one reading from the G section at the following link: 

Gospel Reading


STEP 5: PROVIDING A READER FOR THE GENERAL INTERCESSIONS 
Following the homily, a family member or friend may read the General Intercessions.  A copy is provided below.  NOTE: The parish upon request may provide parishioners to deliver the intercessions in the event that no one from the family is available or should wish to read. 

Intercessions

STEP 6: PROVIDING 2 (or more) NAMES OF THOSE WHO SHALL BRING THE GIFTS OF BREAD AND WINE FOR THE EUCHARIST 
Bread and wine are brought from the back of the sanctuary to the altar at Offertory for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which will be offered for the deceased. 


CHOOSING MUSIC FOR THE CATHOLIC MASS 
This step should occur after the readings and psalms have been selected as the choice of readings helps guide the music planning.  Please remember that all hymns and songs must reflect the sacred nature of the Catholic funeral in a Catholic Church. ​ The link below will bring you to suggested hymns.  After you have created a list of music preferences, you will work with the music minister to solidify the plan and ensure that all music is liturgical in nature and appropriately placed in the Mass.  Additional requests may sometimes be accomodated outside the structure of the Mass (as in Preludes or Postludes) if that is of interest or if there is a family member with a musical gift. If you prefer that the Parish music staff plan the music for the Mass, just let us know and we will be happy to do so.  

Catholic Funeral Music

WORDS OF REMEMBRANCE (OPTIONAL) 
Although not encouraged, the Catholic Church allows one family member or friend to speak briefly in remembrance of the deceased and his/her life of faith, virtue and good works.  The priest or deacon will introduce the person at the appropriate time which is after the Final Commendation.  Families and friends are asked to preserve the sacred character of the Catholic Funeral, keeping in mind that the focus of a Catholic Funeral is Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal life.  During the remarks, our praise should be directed toward God. 

Last Steps
Once the  Funeral Planning Guide is completed, it is reviewed with the Bereavement Coordinator.  Please inform the person celebrating the funeral if there will be any Military honors or Civic Groups present such as the Knights of Columbus, VFW or Lyons Club.