The Catholic Church sees the death of a Christian as the end of the earthly pilgrimage and the beginning of a new and eternal life with God. The rites of the Church reflect this belief. The rites of the Church aim to assist the dead with prayers of the Church for their eternal salvation in Jesus Christ and to aid the family and friends of the deceased in their time of loss and sorrow with a message of hope and consolation in Jesus Christ.
Catholic belief in death as the entrance into eternity, hope in the resurrection, recognition of the value of prayer for the deceased, reverence for the body which remains and the sense of mystery and sacredness which surround the end of earthly life are all reflected in theChurch’s care for the deceased and the family and community that survives them.
Private and liturgical prayer, meditation, reflection and the liturgical rites connected with the funeral and committal unite us to the Lord’s paschal mystery and our hope of eternal union with almighty God.
A Parish Minister will meet with the family to prepare the funeral Mass. The minister will explain the meaning and significance of a Catholic Funeral Mass from church rubrics. A copy of these guidelines and the readings below will be reviewed in detail and given to the family. You may download them by clicking on them.