Funerals
If you are visiting this page on our website it may mean that you have recently experienced a death in the family. Whether expected or not, when a family experiences the death of a loved one it is a trying time for all. Please accept our sympathy and our condolences.
Please know that we will do our best to work with you as you plan the services for your loved one. We have a wonderful team of ministers who work with the planning process for the church.
It is best that your initial contact be with a local funeral home. They will work directly with you and with the parish to coordinate the liturgy and clergy needs.
We are sometimes asked, what does the Catholic Church say about the funeral? Remember the Mass is for both the Deceased and the Family. The level of faith practice of both should be taken into consideration as decisions for the liturgy are made. Here is an excerpt from the Rite of Christian Burial.
- Christians celebrate the funeral rites to offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of life which has now been returned to God, the author of life and the hope of the just. The Mass, the memorial of Christ’s death and resurrection, is the principal celebration of the Christian funeral.
With that in mind, here is the order of preference when celebrating a Funeral Liturgy in the Church.
- Funeral rites with the body present
- Funeral rites with the body present and cremation afterwards
- Funeral rites with the cremated remains present
Remember, however, there are few hard and fast rules. The parish will work with you, your family, and the funeral home to make the experience of the funeral a time of prayer, remembrance and celebration.
For assistance in planning a funeral at Our Lady of Lourdes, please contact the Parish Office at (727) 733-3606.