"Into your hands, Father of mercies, we commend our loved ones,
in the sure and certain hope that, together with all who have died in Christ,
they will rise with him on the last day.”
Dear Friends in Christ,
The St. Lucy Parish community extends its prayers and condolences on the loss of your loved one. The death of a family member can leave us feeling at a loss or empty. Grief can place a great burden on us, making the necessary arrangements seem even greater. Some of these arrangements include the planning of the funeral Mass. As your loved one is entitle by his or her baptism to a Mass of Christian Burial, the perfect prayer of our Church, we thank you for offering this mass for them.
As Christians, we celebrate the Christian funeral to offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of life which has now returned to God. The celebration of the funeral rites is a way to remind us of God’s mercy and to bring hope and consolation in a time of crisis.
In the hope of lightening the task of planning a funeral liturgy, this planning guide has been put together to coincide with the parish planning sheet and the resources of the parish. Obviously the family is invited meet with a parish priest to assist with plans for the funeral Mass. We hope these materials will enable you to plan a liturgy which actively involves those gathered in prayer and grief to give praise to God.
We realize that family members of the deceased are more or less comfortable with the planning and participation of liturgies, especially during such a difficult time. Please feel free to do as much or as little according to your personal comfort level. If you do not wish to participate in the selection of music or family members offering the readings at mass, please let us know. We will gladly have others assist from the parish with these roles.
On behalf of the pastoral staff and parishioners of St. Lucy Parish, may the peace and consolation of Christ be yours. Again, please contact one of your parish priest for assistance an an appointment to help with your planning.
Fr. Codega
*Please note that documents for planning a funeral mass can be found by clicking on their respective links
Other points to consider:
Eulogies
The custom of the funeral eulogy comes ,in part, from Protestant funeral services that may not have the rich ritual and prayers that is the Catholic Mass. Nevertheless, for pastoral and personal reasons, some Catholic pastors have caused confusion by allowing eulogies to become customary in some places, inviting eulogies by family or friends to be said at a Catholic liturgy with varying liturgical or theological content.
The Mass of Christian Burial, celebrated for the repose of the soul of the deceased, is always about Jesus Christ and His saving Grace. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 1688) as well as the Catholic Rite of Christian Funerals cautions against personal eulogies at a funeral Mass. The rite reads, “A brief homily based on the readings is always given after the gospel reading at the funeral liturgy and may also be given after the readings at the vigil service; but there is never to be a eulogy.”
Referencing the liturgical guidelines: Order of Christian Funerals, # 141: According to the most recent instructions for the celebration of mass and the Funeral Rites of the Church, the appropriate place and time for eulogies is the Vigil service, which is normally held at the funeral home, the evening prior to the Funeral. They may also be given at the cemetery or perhaps following at the post-funeral gathering.
Please feel free to send some words of remembrance to the priest who will be celebrating the funeral Mass. (StLucyOffice@gmail.com) It is appropriate that he incorporate some personal information about the deceased in his homily at the mass.
Thank you for your understanding that the primary focus of a funeral liturgy, like all Masses, is about Jesus Christ, the Resurrection, the Eucharist and God's Loving Mercy on all of us, sinners - the promise for those who have died in his Grace.
OFFERING THE BREAD AND WINE AT MASS
Two, or as many as four, family members may be asked to offer the bread and wine at mass, symbolizing the sacrifices, prayers, and offerings of the people, which will become the Eucharist the body and blood of our Lord. These participants should be Catholic as this presentation is a rich symbol of the gifts of the people being offered for the Sacrament of the Church.
WEB CAM
We know that on short notice or other reasons some family members and friends who wish to join you for the funeral are unable to do so. As a special service we have added a streaming web-cam in the church for just such occasions. Please let family and friends know that they may be able to join the liturgy via the internet. They may access the camera from our parish home web-page.