At a Catholic Funeral, family, friends and the faith community gather to farewell the person who has died, and entrust that person to God’s loving care. The funeral rites of the Catholic Church provide opportunity for us to pray for our departed loved ones, offer support for us who mourn and provide comfort to those in grief where ordinary words may fail.

The Funeral Rites

1. Vigil for the Deceased (Optional)

On an evening before the funeral, usually the night before, family and friends may come together for a vigil. Options for a Vigil Liturgy with readings and prayers are provided in the Order of Christian Funerals. The Vigil may also provide opportunity for a loved one to provide some ‘words of remembrance’ about the one who has died. Other customs exist for the Vigil such as praying the rosary which is often customary within the Star of the Sea Parish. A Vigil may be held either in a church or at a funeral parlour. It may also be possible to arrange for the body of the deceased to be present during the vigil. Options for a Vigil can be discussed with the celebrant of the funeral.

2. Funeral Liturgy

The Funeral Liturgy is the central liturgical celebration and may either take the form of a Requiem Mass with the final commendation, or a Liturgy of the Word followed by prayers and the final commendation. Mass is the greatest prayer of the church and a sign of our communion with Christ and the community of faith. It is the most common form of Catholic funeral. A funeral service with the Liturgy of the Word and final commendation, omits the Liturgy of the Eucharist and may be more appropriate if many of the attendees may be unfamiliar with the Church’s liturgical rites. Funeral services can take place either in the church or a funeral parlour.

3. The Rite of Committal

The final funeral rite is the Rite of Committal, which take place either at the cemetery or crematorium chapel. The rite of committal either for burial or cremation usually takes place following the funeral liturgy.