Funeral Planning Guide
Planning a funeral for yourself or for a loved one can be a stressful process. Thankfully, the Church provides a great deal of guidance in planning a funeral liturgy that is both solemn and beautiful. While the funeral liturgy may focus on the life of the deceased, remembering with joy the blessing that they were to us in this life, the Catholic Church does not consider a funeral liturgy merely a “celebration of life". The Church’s funeral liturgy is meant to acknowledge the sadness that death brings while at the same time emphasizing our joyful hope in eternal life. Consequently, the main purpose of the Church’s funeral liturgy is to provide comfort and consolation to the grieving family and loved ones and to encourage them to continue to pray for the deceased as they make their final journey towards eternal life in heaven.
The following directives will guide you in making decisions regarding liturgical selections and other practical matter so that the funeral liturgy and subsequent disposition of remains will truly be appropriate and respectful. The selections for music and readings are numerous; please do not feel compelled to review all the different possible selections. If you would like the coordinator to choose some of the more common hymns and readings, please let us know. If you would like to choose the music and readings yourself, please review the music guidelines and scripture reading selections included in this packet.
If you are planning a funeral for a loved one who has recently died, please contact the parish office at (256) 881-4781 as soon as possible to begin making arrangements, preferably before making final scheduling arrangements with the funeral home. Please be assured of my prayers for you and your family during this difficult time of loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are there fees associated with a funeral?
There are no fees for having a funeral at Holy Spirit. The organists and cantors that we contract with, however, charge fees for musical accompaniment. A stipend to compensate the organist, cantor, and altar servers for their time is appreciated. (Suggested stipends include organist $150, cantor $100, and altar servers $20 each.) - How are the music and readings selected for the funeral?
The processional, offertory, communion, post communion meditation, and recessional hymns may be selected from the approved list of hymns. It is often the case that family members desire that other hymns or contemporary songs be sung at the Mass. It is more appropriate that these be sung or played at the vigil or wake service. In the case of a guest musician or cantor, permission must be sought from the Director of Music and Liturgy. Regarding readings, the Church provides a specific selection of possible readings which are listed in our Funeral Scripture Readings section. - Does the Catholic Church permit cremation?
Cremation is permitted by the Church; however, the Church prefers that the body of the deceased be present for the funeral rites, since the presence of the human body better expresses the values which the Church affirms in those rites. If cremation occurs before the funeral rites, the cremated remains should be present for the funeral rites. The cremated remains should be treated with the same respect given to the human body. This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the care and attention to appropriate placement and transport, and the final disposition. The cremated remains should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium. The practice of scattering cremated remains in the sea, from the air, or on the ground, or keeping cremated remains in the home of a relative or friend of the deceased, or dividing up remains to be kept personally, are not the reverent disposition that the Church desires. - May a eulogy be given at a funeral?
Eulogies are not part of the Catholic funeral liturgy. Although eulogies may have been permitted in the past and are frequently a part of non-Catholic funerals, they are not permitted during funeral liturgies at Holy Spirit. Rather, they should be made at a vigil or wake service prior to the funeral or at a reception after the funeral, so as not to distract from the solemnity of the funeral liturgy itself. - May non-Catholics serve as a lector or other minister at a funeral?
When there is a Funeral Mass, it is required that lectors and all participating as public ministers in the liturgy be Catholic. Musicians may be non-Catholics, as their role is considered musical and not a formal ministerial function. If the funeral is a Liturgy of the Word (without Mass), non-Catholic Christians may serve as lectors.