Please read the Information section below and then fill out and submit the Funeral Request Form.
The Catholic funeral rite is divided into several parts, each with its own purpose.
The Vigil Service usually takes place during the period of visitation and viewing at the funeral home. It is a time to remember the life of the deceased and to commend him/her to God. In prayer, we ask God to console us in our grief and give us strength to support one another.
The Vigil Service consists of readings from Sacred Scripture and beautiful prayers to assist the deceased and those who mourn their loss. The clergy and your funeral director can assist in planning the service.
If the family wishes to offer a eulogy for their deceased relative, they may do so after the Vigil Service.
The funeral Mass is the central liturgical celebration of the Christian community for the deceased. When a Mass cannot be celebrated, a funeral liturgy outside Mass can be celebrated at the church or in the funeral home.
At the funeral Mass, the Church gathers with the family and friends of the deceased to pray for their loved one and to commend them to our merciful God. The funeral Mass, therefore, is an act of worship, and not merely an expression of grief.
The Rite of Committal follow the funeral Mass. It should normally be celebrated at the place of committal, that is, beside the open grave or place of internment. In committing the body to its resting place, the community expresses the hope that, with all those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, the deceased awaits the glory of the resurrection. The Rite of Committal is an expression of the communion that exists between the Church on earth, in purgatory and in heaven. Questions about the format of the committal service can be answered by the celebrant.
It is proper for a lay person to proclaim the First and Second Readings from Scripture and to announce the intentions of the Prayer of the Faithful (if there is no deacon present). The nature of the word of God usually requires that such persons be practicing Catholics and effective public speakers. Lectors should be given copies of the readings in advance so they can practice their readings.
It is our custom to place a pall, a decorated white cloth, on the casket at the beginning of the funeral Mass as a reminder of the garment given at Baptism, thereby signifying life in Christ. Since the deceased would have been dressed in his or her baptismal garment by his or her parents and godparents, the family may wish to participate in this ritual gesture at the funeral.
It is appropriate to assist the celebrant in choosing texts from Sacred Scripture for the funeral Mass. Normally, four Scripture Readings are chosen: one from the Old Testament, one from the psalms, one from the New Testament – epistles, and one from the Gospels. You may see a listing of all the possible Catholic Funeral Mass Readings.
It is appropriate but not required for members of the family to carry the gifts of bread and wine for the Eucharist.
Music during the funeral allows the community to express convictions and feelings that words alone may not convey. Music has the power to console and uplift the mourners and to strengthen the unity of the assembly in faith and love. The Basilica Director of Music takes great care in selecting and presenting sacred music that creates a spirit of hope in Christ’s victory over death and sin. The Basilica Organist/Director of Music and a Basilica Cantor are provided for the funeral Mass. Family members may wish to discuss musical selections for the funeral Mass with the Director. Due to the sacred nature of the liturgy, only sacred, liturgical music is permitted at the funeral Mass. Please contact the Director of Music directly to discuss any needs you have in regard to music.
A) It should be limited to 3-5 minutes.
B) Only one person may represent the family and friends. Multiple remembrances are not permitted.
C) The pastor may request a written outline of the proposed remembrance remarks, if he deems it appropriate.
It is appropriate to bring floral arrangements from the funeral home to the Basilica for placement in the Sanctuary during the funeral Mass. Please discuss what is appropriate and effective with the Basilica staff.
The Christian faithful are confronted with the mystery of life and death in the presence of the body of one who has died. The body of a deceased Catholic Christian is also the body once washed in Baptism, anointed with the oil of salvation, and fed with the Bread of Life. Thus, the Church’s reverence for the sacredness of the human body grows out of a reverence and concern both natural and supernatural for the human person.
While cremation is now permitted by the Church, it is our recommendation that cremation, when chosen, take place after the funeral rites, so that our acts of prayer and worship in grief may take place in the presence of the body as one final act of love and respect for the deceased. When it is not possible to delay cremation until after the funeral rites are celebrated, the cremated remains of the deceased may be brought to the Church for the funeral Mass provided there is an appropriate plan for their internment. The cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they came. This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes and a respectful manner of internment.