 |
GUIDELINES FOR CHRISTIAN BURIALS |
The Catholic funeral rites celebrate the mystery of our life, death and resurrection in Christ. Through Baptism we enter into this mystery. We live our lives in the hope of sharing eternal life with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit when we complete our passage through death.. For us Christians, death in Christ results in life in greater abundance. This new life, like a seed, was planted in us at Baptism, flowered during our lifetime, and at death yields a rich harvest. Faith in this mystery should motivate people arranging the funeral of a loved one. With this in mind, and praying with you in this time of grief, we present to you the funeral guidelines for our parish.
WHO CAN BE BURIED WITH A FUNERAL MASS
The parish is open to celebrating funeral services for current or former parishioners and for their relatives. The pastor, Fr. Noesen, will determine on other requests having no parish connection. Non-parishioners will be accommodated if staff resources allow.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Catholic burial, including the funeral Mass, is permitted for a baptized non-Catholic who might reasonably be presumed to desire or prefer Catholic burial services. Such a decision would be appropriate where the non-Catholic party worshiped regularly at the Catholic Church or identified with the Catholic Church more than any other. It would not be appropriate if the deceased were an active member of a non-Catholic Christian Church, except in cases where the minister of the deceased was unavailable. (Canon 1183.3)
(Archdiocesan Policy (Book IV Part 1) http://policy.archchicago.org/policies/bk4num700.pdf 701.1.1 Entitlement to Church's Ministry at Time of Death.)
TIMES
The Mass of Christian Burial is the primary service, customarily celebrated in the morning, reflecting the theme of resurrection. Procession to the cemetery and burial usually follows the Mass. An evening Mass of Christian Burial is an acceptable option, if more convenient for the family and mourners. In this case, the internment services would be held the following morning.
Funeral arrangements begin with a meeting with the funeral director. Next the parish is contacted, where a priest will confirm the time for the funeral Mass. Later the parish will contact the family to discuss the details of the Mass of Christian Burial.
At St. Vincent's the the latest we can schedule a funeral is at 10:00 a.m. (We can no longer
schedule the former 10:30 time.) The earliest is 8 a.m on Monday thru Friday. On Saturday we
can schedule only after 9 a.m.
A VIGIL OR WAKE SERVICE
A vigil service of prayer and scripture at the wake is optional. The parish staff member or funeral director leads the wake/rosary service. This service may be held at the funeral home or the church. At times near the major liturgical seasons of Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter, the church may not be available.
VIEWING THE BODY
This practice is highly encouraged, because it helps remove doubts that the loved one has truly died. If death occurs at home, hospital or nursing home, it is good to gather the family together at the scene of death to pray before the body is removed. The body should also be viewed at the funeral home. At the time of the Mass of Christian Burial the casket is closed.
CREMATION
If the deceased is to be cremated, it is permissible to celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial with the cremated remains present. Church law requires the cremains be laid to rest in consecrated ground, either buried or kept in a mausoleum.
FLOWERS
Flowers are permitted. for the Wake/Rosary Service and again for the Mass of Christian Burial. Parish staff will direct the placement of the flowers. Funeral directors should take notice of flowers that are already in the sanctuary before the. Please be sure to remove, after Mass, only the flowers the family has brought in. The parish welcomes donations of flower arrangements should the family wish it. Flowers arrangements are not to be carried in the recessional.
PHOTOGRAPHS AND MEMORABILIA
Memorial displays are encouraged at the wake at the funeral home. If some images are to be used in church, the display is to be kept simple. They are never to block the view of the tabernacle or the music ministers.
CELEBRATING THE MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
MUSIC
Because the Mass is a public act of worship of the church, the parish is ultimately responsible for the music in the liturgy. Hymns should reflect the idea of resurrection and hope. You may have in mind some specific religious music, which would be appropriate during the Mass. The parish Worship office can help you choose music that would be appropriate for the funeral Mass.
The entrance hymn, communion hymn and recessional hymn are music that the congregation should be encouraged to sing, as well as the usual service music and responses. Solos are more appropriate as a prelude, during the presentation of the gifts, and as a postlude after the recessional.. Guest musicians must work through the parish Music Coordinator. If they are not familiar with the Catholic liturgy, then the parish Coordinator must be present ( for an additional fee) at the funeral Mass. The same norms apply to music for the Vigil/Rosary Service. Use of recorded music in the liturgy is not permitted.
READINGS
The staff planner can assist in the selection of scriptural readings. One reading from the old testament, one from the epistles, and a gospel reading. Non-scripural readings are not permitted at Mass. Click HERE for a list of Scriptural Readings appropriate to funerals. It is often difficult for immediate family members to proclaim the readings at the funeral Mass. The office of Lector is a skilled church ministry. If the family cannot provide the lectors, the parish will see that the readings are proclaimed.
PALL AND CANDLE
The casket itself, though a center of reverence, is not the focus of attention at the Mass of Christian Burial. Rather, the focus is our hope of sharing eternal life and resurrection, promised at Baptism. During the entrance blessing, the casket is covered with a white cloth, a pall, as a reminder of the white garment used at Baptism. The Easter Candle, another symbol of Baptism will stand ahead of the casket . Usually it is immediate family members who place the funeral pall on the casket. The American flag, a symbol of military service, never covers the casket in church during the Mass.
ENTRANCE PROCESSION
The order of entrance is as follows: Servers, presider, casket, pallbearers, followed by the family (if not already seated) The same order is used as we leave the Church. Musicians are not part of the procession. They are to be up front in the music ministry area leading the congregation in the entrance or recessional song.
HOMILY
The homily is the sermon by the priest or deacon after the gospel. It is meant to be a reflection on Christian life, death, and resurrection. This is not the time for a eulogy on the life of the deceased. The Archdiocesan policy reads: "'Only an ordained priest or deacon is allowed to preach the homily at the funeral liturgy. Other persons may speak briefly at the wake service or at the beginning of the final commendation. A eulogy is never appropriate where a homily is prescribed (OCF #27), but examples from the person's life may be used in the homily."
PRESENTATION OF GIFTS
We encourage members of the immediate family to bring the gifts forward as a symbolic way of offering their loved one to God. We encourage Catholics to receive communion under both species. If you have family members who are commissioned Eucharistic Ministers, (even from another parish) they are permitted to assist. Otherwise, the parish will provide Eucharistic Ministers.
EULOGY
The eulogy is not part of the Mass of Christian burial. Eulogies by family members or friends are encouraged at the wake service and at the cemetery.. Some families use the wake service for a time of memories for the deceased with an open podium. This is done in the context of the vigil service. Eulogies by family members or friends are no longer permitted in the chuch at the Mass of Christian burial at St. Vincent's.
CHURCH
STIPEND, FEES
Most funeral directors itemize all costs within their billings. Included should
be payments for the church stipend (parishoners - $300, non-parishoners -
$500), the musician ($125), the cantor, if applicable ($125) and the sacristan
($25). The church stipend does not belong to the priest. It is turned in as
church income and its amount is set by Archdiocesan regulations. Finally,
it is customary for the funeral director to offer the altar servers a small
tip.
ENTRY DOORS:
There are outer and inner doors to our building. We ask that they not be blocked open at any time when bringing in the casket. Someone holding them open when passing
through at the entering and the exiting is preferred. This is especially easy once the casket is
placed on the church truck. The reason for all this is because the building hemorrhages heat or
cold. When this wind tunnel occurs, the floor radial system over-acts or the air conditioning
labors.