At a death,
the Catholic Church offers immense support and consolation through
the Order of Christian Funerals — a journey of prayer for the deceased
with the mourners. The various prayers, rituals, music, silence and
gestures are expressions of invisible emotions and feelings. The rites
express a situation that is ideal, while requiring pastoral adaptation
to a situation that is real. Ordinarily, the Order of Christian Funerals
(OCF) includes the Vigil Service, the Funeral Mass and the Rite of
Committal. The Vigil may be at a funeral home or at the deceased's
parish, either the night before or just before the Mass. As a norm,
the Funeral Mass is celebrated with the faith community where the
deceased belonged. The Rite of Committal occurs at the cemetery either
at grave or crypt side, or in a chapel.
At times, the vigil or visitation service, a committal without
a Mass or a Mass with committal has been held at our chapels. As
the final resting place, we want to invite gatherings here, rather
than no gathering anywhere. Inquire first with the cemetery and
our Spiritual Director. Please click
here to read more.
