Funerals

Funerals

Preparation & Planning and Preplanning


One of the most sensitive times in people’s lives is the loss of a loved one. Despite our Christian belief in the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting purchased for us by Christ and promised to us in baptism when we are given life in Christ’s own death and resurrection, the physical reality is that of final separation from a loved one and an irreversible loss. When someone dies, those family and friends left behind all grieve in different ways. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Everyone grieves their own way and their own pace.


The funeral home you have chosen will work with you and the parish to schedule your funeral liturgy. They will give you a booklet titled Through Death into Life. A member of the Bereavement Team will meet with you to help arrange the Funeral Mass. You will choose the first and second readings and the songs for the Funeral Liturgy. The list of sacred music is available here.  You will choose one Old Testament reading (C1 to C7) and one New Testament reading (E1 to E15) which are available here. (PLEASE NOTE: from Easter Sunday to Pentecost, there is no Old Testament reading. The first reading is chosen from C8 to C11).


Pre-Planning your Funeral Liturgy


You might like to preplan your own Funeral Liturgy. If you are interested, please call 630-852-3303 and we will have a Bereavement Minister meet with you.


Bereavement


After a death, we all need the support, care, prayer, and love of our church friends and family. The Bereavement Minister not only meets with the family to arrange the Funeral Liturgy and express the sympathy of the parish, but also attends the wake and the funeral when possible.


To plan a funeral or to become a part of this ministry, please call Father Jeff Smialek at 630-852-3303 or frjeff@ourladyofmtcarmel.org.




The Funeral Liturgy


GATHERING RITES


  • Gathering rites honor the life and body of the deceased.
  • The casket and family are met by the priest at the entrance of the church. The casket is sprinkled with holy water and the pall (white covering) is placed on the casket by the family if they choose to do so. This is a reminder of the baptismal water and garment and being claimed by Christ.
  • The music for the liturgy is chosen by the family; however the music must come from  The list of music director’s list which is provided.
  • The Processional Song draws the assembly into the sacred liturgy.
  • The casket is moved to the front of the main aisle by the pall bearers and placed in front of the paschal candle, which is a symbol of the union with Christ – the light of Christ given at baptism.


LITURGY OF THE WORD


  • Scripture readings reflect the hope of eternity and our life in Christ.
  • Old and New Testament readings may be chosen and read by the family or their designee. Although families are invited to participate in the readings, please take into consideration the person’s ability to read in public given the circumstances and the intensity of the moment.
  • The Responsorial Psalm is sung between the two readings. It is chosen by the family.
  • The Gospel is proclaimed by the presider (priest) followed by the Homily, which is also delivered by the presider.


LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST


  • Preparation of the Gifts – families may choose the song played during the presentation of the gifts and may bring up the gifts of bread and wine.
  • Eucharistic prayer
  • The Lord’s prayer
  • Sign of Peace
  • Lamb of God
  • Communion Song –is chosen by the family.
  • Eulogies should be given at the wake or funeral luncheon.


RITE OF COMMENDATION

  • Liturgical prayers are said over the casket and the casket is incensed by the presider of the Mass.
  • The Commendation Song is chosen by the family and reflects liturgical texts which request the deceased to be led into paradise.
  • The casket is then taken out to the place of interment by the pall bearers.
  • Recessional song – is be chosen by the family.


Funeral Liturgy in the presence of Cremains


The Rite of Christian Funerals was revised recently to allow the same funeral rites for cremains (ashes) as for the deceased body, although the Church still prefers the preservation of the body.

Cremains that are present may be sprinkled with holy water, incensed and then the same liturgical prayers (with just a few adaptations) are used at the Mass. Cremains are usually placed at the front of the main aisle with the Paschal Candle.

If the family is going to have the body cremated, the church prefers that the body be present at the Funeral Liturgy and the cremation takes place afterwards.

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