Funeral Information
Please consider the following when planning a funeral Mass at either OLGH or St. Theresa Shrine. It is the obligation of every parish to provide for a dignified Catholic burial that respects the integrity and sacredness of the Liturgy:
- The services of a funeral home must be utilized when arranging a funeral Mass. A funeral director must be present when remains, including cremains, are brought into church.
- Cremains must be buried in a cemetery following the Mass or as soon as possible. For Catholics, the cremains of a loved one cannot be distributed, remain in a home or in storage, or scattered in any way.
- Funeral Masses may not be held on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday or Easter Sunday. Funeral Masses are also prohibited on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation.
- Eulogies are not permitted during any funeral Mass. Eulogies are, generally speaking, not a Catholic practice. The Bishop allows the pastor the right to restrict this practice in their parish.
- Appropriate words of remembrance may be given during the committal ceremony or during the wake service. The reading of poems or other non-liturgical materials is not permitted in the church.
- The family may choose and deliver readings from the approved liturgical texts for a funeral Mass (which are linked below). Only one reading is necessary prior to the Gospel, but two are permitted.
- Lectors must be Catholics in good standing. Generally, the Prayer of the Faithful will be delivered by the deacon or priest celebrant, if the priest chooses to incorporate this in the Mass.
- The use of outside musicians/soloists is generally not permitted. We employ a highly skilled organist and soloists who are contracted to provide sacred music. All hymns must be liturgical and appropriate to Holy Mass. Secular hymns or recorded music are not permitted during the funeral Liturgy.
- The parish reserves the right to veto requested songs, at the discretion of the music ministers, in conjunction with the pastor.
- See below for links to approved readings and musical suggestions.
- St. Theresa's Church Hall is available for funeral repasts following committal. Contact the parish office for more information on planning a funeral repast.
Music
Readings
Readings
Entrance:
Grant Them Eternal Rest O, Lord
I Know That My Redeemer Lives
Amazing Grace
Requiem Aternam (from Latin Entrance Rite)
Be Thou My Vision
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Responsorial Psalm:
Usually sung, led by the Cantor
See suggestions after First readings.
Songs closely based on specified psalms may be used.
Offertory (Preparation for Mass):
Instrumental Music (not during Lent)
Prayer of St. Francis
Mary Full of Grace (O Sanctissima)
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
Lord of All Hopefulness
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Communion:
Take and Eat, This is My Body
I Am the Bread of Life
Eat This Bread, Drink This Cup
Panis Angelicus (Latin, “Bread of Angels”)
Shelter Me, O God
Shepherd Me, O God (Psalm 23)
On Eagle’s Wings
Eye Has Not Seen
Final Farewell:
In Paradisum Chant (In Latin or English)
I believe That My Redeemer Lives
Jerusalem, My Happy Home
O Loving God
Recessional:
Alleluia, The Strife is O’er
We Will Rise Again
How Great Thou Art
Sing With All the Saints In Glory
Notes:
- Marian Songs such as Ave Maria, Hail Mary/Gentle Woman, Holy Is His Name, etc. are best at Offertory, or Meditation after Communion, or as Prelude before Mass, they are generally not for Entrance, Communion, or Recessional.
- Songs with “Alleluia” are not sung during Lent.
- Other appropriate church hymns may be chosen for use in consultation with the organist.
For further assistance, please contact the the parish organist, Peter LaMoria by calling the parish office, 568-8280.
Readings
Readings
Readings
Readings for the Funeral Liturgy
In every celebration for the dead, the Church attaches great importance to the reading of the word of God. The readings proclaim to the assembly the Paschal Mystery, teach remembrance of the dead, convey the hope of being gathered together again in God's kingdom, and encourage the witness of Christian life. Above all, the readings tell of God's designs for a world in which suffering and death will relinquish their hold on all whom God has called his own. A careful selection and use of readings from Scripture for the funeral rites will provide the family with an opportunity to hear God speak to them in their needs, sorrows, fears, and hopes.
In the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word at the funeral liturgy, the Biblical readings may not be replaced by non-biblical readings. But during prayer services with the family non-biblical readings may be used in addition to readings from Scripture.
– Order of Christian Funerals, General Introduction, nos. 22-23
Funeral Liturgy Readings
First Reading
Psalm
Second Reading (or First Reading when no Old Testament Readings are selected)
The Gospel is chosen by Priest or Deacon who is preaching.