Funerals

Those in need of assistance with planning for a loved one's final arrangments should first contact a funeral home.  

Please call Cathy in the Parish Office for any questions: (972) 298-4971 x11

The necessity of planning for a loved one’s funeral is one of the most stressful times in one’s life. The volunteers and staff of the parish are here to help you.

Planning:  Most of the time this is done after a death. But, it may be done before, whether in anticipation of death during illness, or simply to ease the stress of what will be a difficult time. One may do some planning ahead of his/her own death, similar to pre-arrangements with a funeral home.

 

Funeral Mass: Burial in the Catholic Church emphasizes prayer and our relationship with God. It usually consists of a funeral mass, followed by a prayer service at the burial site by a member of the clergy or a lay minister commissioned by the pastor. 
 
Vigil Service/Rosary: A vigil service, usually at the funeral home but occasionally at the church, is customarily held the evening before the funeral mass. This service may consist of scripture readings and prayers, including but not limited to a rosary or a portion of a rosary led by a deacon, lay minister, or a member of the family.
 
Funeral Service: The funeral service at the church does not have to be a mass; it may be a service which is similar to the mass except that it does not involve the consecration and communion service. It has the same service of the scripture readings, homily, prayers over and blessing of the remains of the deceased. This is usually led by a deacon.
 
Memorial Mass: When there are no remains (casket or cremated remains), as when the body is donated to a medical school or a funeral mass or burial has already occurred or held elsewhere, there may be a memorial mass. This will have the same selection of readings and homily, but no prayers over and blessing of remains.
 
Planning: When preparing for any of the three services at the church (funeral mass, funeral service or memorial mass) the family participates in planning the service, particularly the selection of scriptural readings and music.  They may meet with a funeral coordinator from the parish to discuss these; they may review the options and make some selections ahead of time.  The family may also participate by placing the pall on the casket and presenting the gifts (bread and wine) to the priest. 
 
Scripture Readings: The Catholic Funeral Liturgy missal gives several choices for each of the three readings, one each from the Old Testament, New Testament and Gospels. You may choose from those.  If the deceased had or the family have a particular reading that is meaningful it may be considered. 

Click on the following links to review the readings: 

Old Testament Readings
New Testament Readings
Gospel Readings
 
Music: For music suggestions:

        Click here for List of Songs             
        Click here for List of Songs (with Lyrics)          

Click on any of them to see the words of the first verse and the refrain.  Other songs may be used if they are in the parish music book.