The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.  He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage.  You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. (Psalm 23)

The death of a loved one can be a time of great sadness and distress.  Our parish strives to make family members as comfortable as possible as we pray to the Lord Jesus for the deceased loved one and for his or her family.  We pray that the soul of the faithful departed may rest in peace and that the family and friends of the departed may find renewed hope in the promise of  Christ’s resurrection.  Please contact the funeral home first and they will coordinate date and times with the parish.  After meeting with the funeral home the family will meet with the parish staff to plan for the services.

The Funeral Rites of the Catholic Church contain three significant moments of prayer.

1. The Wake Service, known in Church language as the Vigil for the Deceased, is a brief prayer service (10- 15 minutes) that takes    place in the Funeral Home during the hours of visitation.  It is usually led by member of the parish staff on behalf of the pastor.  It allows family members and friends who cannot make the Funeral Mass an opportunity for prayer and a chance to hear words of consolation. 
    
2. The Funeral Mass, sometimes called the Mass of the Resurrection, is the principle service of the funeral rites.  Our prayers for the departed are united with the saving sacrifice of Jesus Christ celebrated in the Eucharist.  The symbols used in the Funeral  Mass recall the grace of our baptism when we were born again in water and in Spirit.  We pray that the departed will now be born again into everlasting life. 
    
3. The Burial, known in Church language as the Rite of Committal, usually takes place immediately after the Funeral Mass but   can be delayed if necessary.  This brief prayer helps the family and friends gathered at the cemetery to lay the mortal remains of their loved one to rest.

After the funeral, the parish stands ready to assist families in the days and weeks ahead.  In early November, close to the Feast of All Souls, the parish remembers those who have died in a special Masses of Remembrance by lighting a candle for every member of our parish whose funeral was celebrated in our church in the preceding year.

Usually, the funeral home is the family’s first point of contact when arranging a funeral.  After a date and time is set for the funeral service, the parish contacts the family to make additional arrangements particular to the funeral rites.  

For more information or questions, please contact Monique Hubbard at (508) 224-3636, Ext. 120 or by email at [email protected].