We are deeply sorry for your loss.
The Church will wait with you in hope.

On behalf of the Parish of the Holy Eucharist, please accept our deepest sympathies on the news of the death of your loved one. The whole parish will be praying for the repose of the soul of your loved one in the coming week. It is my hope that our celebration of the funeral rites of the Church in the coming days will be a consolation to you and your entire family. Please know that you are not alone in your grief. May you feel the healing presence of the Lord Jesus during our times of prayer with you.

Since the time of the earliest Christian communities, the Catholic Church has been celebrating funeral rites in the hope of the Resurrection from the dead. Over the centuries, it has developed a number of traditions to mark the passing of a loved one from this life to the next life. This way of praying for the deceased and for honoring the person’s life is particular to us as a community of faith.

The sights and sounds of the Catholic funeral rites may or may not correspond to how others in contemporary society approach death. Our perspective is taken from the Scriptures and reflects our 2,000 year history. If you have not been to the celebration of Catholic funeral rites for some time, the signs and symbols used may be unfamiliar to you. This page is meant to help you by explaining some of what will take place at the funeral home, at the church, and at the cemetery. It is also meant to help you and your family make a few choices about how you wish to participate in these three stages of the funeral rites that the Church offers you.

Please know that we pray for the dead at every offering of the Holy the Sacrifice of the Mass, day in and day out. There are special observances on Memorial Day each year at Holy Cross Cemetery in Yarmouth, as well as celebrations of Mass for the Dead on All Souls Day (November 2) each year. You may also wish to have Mass celebrated for the intention of your loved one in particular at other times of the year. If the parish can be of help to you in the weeks and months following the death of your loved one, please do not hesitate to contact us. We want to be near to you and your family during this difficult time. Please be assured of our prayers and our support.

In the consolation of Our Risen Lord,

Rev. Fr. Steven G. Cartwright, Pastor
 

THE THREE RITES OF THE CATHOLIC FUNERAL LITURGY

THE VIGIL ("WAKE")
The vigil (also called “prayer service” or “wake”) is an occasion for family and friends to gather at the funeral home or a chapel to pray together, grieve together, and remember the life of our loved one. It often includes:

• A viewing of the body or casket when appropriate.
• Scripture reading, singing, intercessory prayer.
• Displays of memorabilia and flowers.
• Eulogies or sharing of precious memories of the departed.

THE FUNERAL LITURGY
The funeral liturgy normally takes the form of a Funeral Mass, which is held at the parish church. It is also possible to celebrate a “Funeral Liturgy Outside of Mass” in cases where the pastor and family deem it appropriate not to celebrate a Mass. The funeral liturgy is the place for the following:
 

• To give thanks and praise to God for Christ’s victory over sin and death.
• To commend the deceased to God’s tender mercy and compassion.
• To seek strength in the proclamation of the life, death, and Resurrection of Christ.
• To celebrate special ritual moments such as the procession of the casket, the placing of the pall, and the song of farewell, which help us to grieve with hope and support.

THE BURIAL (COMMITTAL)
The burial (also called the “committal”), takes place at the cemetery after the funeral liturgy. It may occur immediately after the funeral or at another time. The committal includes:
 

• Brief prayers, Scripture reading, the Lord’s Prayer (“Our Father”), and a blessing of the remains.
• Military honors for veterans.
• Placing flowers or earth on the casket if desired.
• The casket may be lowered into the ground.
• Cremated remains are either buried or entombed in a mausoleum.

STEP #1: SCHEDULE THE FUNERAL LITURGY
If you are working with a funeral home, the funeral director will be handling all of the funeral arrangements on your behalf and will coordinate with our pastoral office to schedule the funeral liturgy and the services of one of our priests.

If you are NOT working with a funeral home,  please call the Parish of the Holy Eucharist pastoral office at 207-553-7042 and ask to speak with Kim Lovett, Faith Formation Coordinator for the Sacraments, who will work with you during business hours, Monday-Thursday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, to coordinate the funeral of your deceased loved one. Our parish office is located at Holy Martyrs Church, 266 Foreside Road, Falmouth, Maine. You may email Kim at kim.lovett@portlanddiocese.org.

STEP #2: CHOOSE A CEMETERY
While it is not a requirement, the Church encourages the burial of Catholics in Catholic cemeteries. Throughout history, Christians have been buried near other Christians in places that have been blessed and dedicated for prayer and remembrance. Burial in the consecrated ground of a Catholic cemetery is a sign of our baptismal commitment and reaffirms that we remain brothers and sisters of Christ, united even in death. In those circumstances when the deceased is buried or interred in a non-Catholic cemetery, the priest will bless the site of burial.

ABOUT CREMATION: The Church earnestly recommends the burial of the bodies of the deceased as a sign of reverence for the human body and the Christian belief in the Resurrection of the dead on the Last Day. The practice of cremation, however, can be permitted, provided that it has not been chosen for reasons contrary to Catholic teaching. If cremation is chosen, it is preferred that the funeral liturgy be celebrated in the presence of the body of the deceased prior to its cremation. Following the liturgy, the body can then be cremated and the burial rites of the Church be celebrated afterwards. If cremation has already taken place before the funeral liturgy, the funeral can still be celebrated in the presence of the cremated remains. In keeping with our hope in the Resurrection of the dead, the Church expects that cremated remains will be treated with the same respect given to the remains of a human body and thus be buried or interred in individual graves or columbaria. The secular practices of scattering, dividing remains, or keeping them at home have no symbolic meaning in our tradition and are never permitted. 

Fees
For our customary fees, please contact our office by phone at (207) 847-6890. 

If you are not working with a funeral home, you will find some prompts below 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 Mass 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


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 three options. (See Catholic Funeral Music link below.)

STEP 4: CHOOSING THE GOSPEL READING 
The priest will choose the Gospel reading which he will read.  


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 WILL 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 is 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 Lions Club.