Have you planned your funeral?
Have you made such plans? We encourage you to do so. Like everything else related to our passing from this world to the next, it is a benefit to family and friends to do some planning of how you would like you funeral to be celebrated, and then communicate that to all who you think need to know: family, friends and parish. We offer an opportunity to have a reception after the funeral, see details attached.
About the Ceremony
Obviously you need to follow the rituals of the Church, but there is room for planning according to your wishes and as an expression of your faith.
For example:
~ what readings from scripture would you like? The Liturgy of the Word follows the Sunday format with an Old Testament reading, a responsorial Psalm, a New Testament reading, and a Gospel Reading. While there is a selection of readings appropriate for a funeral, any scripture passages you and your family might think appropriate can be used.
~ What music would you like done (and perhaps, what music do you not want done)?
~ Who would you like to read the scriptures, lead the Prayers of the Faithful, and bring the gifts to the altar?
Normally one of our parish staff meet with family members with only a day or two notice to make all these decisions. So, while final decisions don’t have to be made far in advance (although they can be), some indication of your wishes is very helpful.
About Calling Hours
You may not want to be “on display” or think that they a waste of time and money. Be assured, they are very valuable for your family and friends. They give them something extremely valuable to the grieving process: time and opportunity to remember you and to get their heads and hearts around the fact that you have died. Please do not deprive them – us – of the gifts of remembering you with laughter and tears.
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.
~ Romans 6: 3 - 5