At Queen of Peace Norval, we understand that planning a funeral can be a challenging time. Our goal is to provide clear and practical guidance to assist you in this process.
Here are some key points to consider when planning a funeral:
- Contact the Parish: Reach out to our parish office to discuss your needs and schedule a meeting with a priest.
- Funeral Mass: We offer a Funeral Mass to honor your loved one. Discuss the details and any specific requests with the priest.
- Music and Readings: Choose meaningful hymns and scripture readings that reflect the life of the deceased. Our team can help you with selections.
- Obituary Notices: Consider writing an obituary to share with the community. We can assist with the details and publication options.
- Reception Arrangements: If you wish to hold a reception after the service, we can provide recommendations for local venues.
We are here to support you during this difficult time. Please do not hesitate to reach out for assistance or with any questions you may have.
Understanding the Catholic Funeral Rites
The Catholic Church offers a funeral not as a single event but as a sequence of rites that accompany the family from the time of death to burial. Knowing how these parts fit together can make early conversations with the funeral home and the parish feel far less overwhelming.
The three main stages
- The Vigil for the Deceased. Often held at the funeral home the evening before the funeral, the vigil is a time of prayer, scripture and remembrance. Many families include the Rosary. This is also the most fitting moment for longer personal stories or eulogies.
- The Funeral Liturgy. Usually a Funeral Mass celebrated in the church, this is the heart of the Church's prayer for the person who has died. Where a Mass is not possible or appropriate, a funeral liturgy outside Mass may be celebrated.
- The Rite of Committal. A brief service at the graveside or place of interment, where the community entrusts the deceased to God and says a final farewell.
Choosing readings and participants
A Funeral Mass typically includes a reading from the Old Testament, a psalm, a New Testament reading and a Gospel chosen by the priest or family from approved texts. Family members or friends may be invited to proclaim the first readings, offer the prayers of the faithful or bring up the gifts. It helps to choose readers who are comfortable speaking in public and to give them their texts in advance.
Cremation and burial
The Church permits cremation, ideally after the Funeral Mass, though the liturgy can also be celebrated with cremated remains present. The Church asks that ashes be kept together and interred in a cemetery, columbarium or other sacred place rather than scattered or kept at home. If you are unsure which option suits your family, the priest can explain the guidance before decisions are finalised with the funeral director.
Practical things to gather
- The full name, dates and sacramental details (such as baptism) of the deceased
- Preferred dates, confirmed with both the funeral home and the parish
- Draft choices of hymns and readings
- Names of readers, pallbearers and anyone offering words of remembrance
For other milestones of faith, see our Sacraments page, or use the Contact page to reach the parish office when you are ready to begin.
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