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On behalf of the Parish of the Holy Eucharist, please accept our deepest sympathies on 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
A Catholic funeral is a Funeral Mass that is held at the parish church. The liturgy of the Mass is a place where we give thanks to God for Christ’s victory over sin and death, commend the deceased to God’s tender mercy and compassion, and seek strength in the proclamation of the life, death, and Resurrection of Christ. The funeral Mass includes special ritual moments that help us to grieve with hope and support.
A burial, also known as a committal, takes place at the cemetery either after the funeral liturgy or at another time. The burial includes prayers, Scripture reading, and a blessing of the remains. This is also where military honors for veterans and placing of flowers may take place. The casket or cremated remains are then either buried or entombed.
A wake, also known as calling hours or the vigil, takes place prior to the funeral, either right before it or the night before. This is an occasion for family and friends to gather to pray, grieve, and remember the life of our loved one together. This time can include a viewing of the body or casket, Scripture reading, prayer, displays of memorabilia and flowers, and sharing of eulogies or memories of the departed.
A funeral home is a business that provides burial and funeral services. They handle making arrangements on your behalf and coordinate with the parish to schedule the funeral liturgy and services. The funeral home also assists you with handling necessary paperwork.
The Catholic Church encourages the burial of Catholics in Catholic cemeteries, but it is not required. You may choose a cemetery that you find to fit your desires best. The funeral home and parish will work with you to plan the burial at the chosen cemetery.
The first step is scheduling the funeral liturgy. If you are planning to work with a funeral home, reach out to them to start the planning process. The funeral home will contact the parish to make arrangements as needed. If you are not working with a funeral home, contact the parish directly at (207) 553-7042 and ask to speak to Kim Lovett to begin planning.
The second step is choosing a cemetery. Please see the question above with more information on this.
The third step is planning the funeral liturgy. Please see the question below with more information on this.
The parish will help you plan the funeral liturgy for your deceased loved one. In the planning process, you will be able to choose the readings for the Mass, along with readers who will recite the chosen readings and the general intercessions (prayers and petitions). Along with this, you will choose who will put the pall on the casket (a cross and Bible may also be placed) and who will bring up the gifts at the Offertory. Lastly, you will be able to choose music for the Mass.
The Catholic Church earnestly recommends the burial of the bodies of the deceased. This is a sign of reverence for the human body and the Christian belief in the Resurrection of the dead. The practice of cremation can be permitted, provided that it has not been chosen for reasons contrary to Catholic teaching. If cremation is chosen, it is expected that the cremated remains be treated with the same respect given to the remains of a human body and buried or interred in an individual grave or columbaria. The secular practices of scattering, dividing, or keeping remains have no symbolic meaning in our tradition and are never permitted.
It is preferred that the funeral liturgy be celebrated in the presence of the body of the deceased prior to its cremation. If cremation has already taken place before the liturgy, the funeral can still be celebrated in the presence of the cremated remains.
For our customary fees, please contact Kim Lovett by phone at (207) 553-7042.
We ask that all present observe the following guidelines concerning the reception of Holy Communion during the funeral Mass:
For Catholics - all Catholics who present themselves to receive Holy Communion should be properly disposed to do so. They should not be conscious of having committed any grave sins and should have fasted for one hour, unless age or illness requires otherwise.
For non-Catholics - because Catholics believe that the Holy Eucharist is the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, non-Catholics are weclomed to the celebration of the sacred liturgy but may not be admitted to receive Holy Communion. At the time of distribution of Communion, we ask that you join us in prayer for the deceased and for the consolation of all present.
Those who are alientated from the Church, from God, or from family members or friends may wish to become reconciled. The priest will be happy to make the Sacrament of Reconciliation available to those who request it.
We encourage words of remembrance to be shared outside of the funeral Mass, such as at calling hours beforehand, or a reception afterwards.
Although not encouraged, the Catholic Church does allow one family member or friend to speak briefly in remembrance of the deceased and his/her life of faith, virtue, and good works. If a family chooses to include words of remembrance at the funeral Mass, they are spoken at the beginning of the liturgy. Family 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.