Arranging a funeral for a loved one is a very difficult time in our lives. There are lots of things to think about and arrange and our aim (along with your funeral director) is to help make this as smooth as possible.
To arrange a Catholic funeral service at St Michael’s or St Bernadette’s, please contact the Parish Office as soon as possible.
The following information is based on a leaflet prepared by the Bishop’s Conference of England & Wales.
Who to inform when someone dies.
- Next of kin, if not present
- Family doctor, if the person dies at home
- Funeral director, if the family is using one (the deceased may already have made arrangements)
- Parish Priest
In addition, if you are called to someone who has died unexpectedly or in unusual circumstances, the police will need to be informed. Do not touch or move anything in the room.
What happens next?
If the cause of death is clear, the doctor will issue a medical certificate and a formal notice confirming that he or she has signed the certificate. This notice gives information on how to register the death and will enable funeral arrangements to be made.
If the doctor reports the death to the coroner, there may be a delay while a post mortem or inquest is carried out. The coroner’s office will advise you on what arrangements may be made.
Registering the death.
The death will need to be registered within five days unless it has been reported to the coroner. Further detail concerning these procedures can be found in a booklet available from the Department of Social Security.
What are the financial implications?
If the family wishes to use a funeral director, it is quite proper to invite estimates from different firms. There is a considerable financial difference between cremation and burial, and those choosing burial will also need to consider the upkeep of the grave. There may be a fee for an organist or other musician. An offering to the minister or parish is discretionary, though customary, and you may wish to check with the funeral director or priest when arranging the funeral.
Where the family uses a funeral director an offering may be included automatically in the account, though the family is free to make its own arrangements.
Arranging the funeral.
Funeral practice varies considerably and the Church provides several options from which we can choose freely. There is greater flexibility and involvement than we sometimes imagine.
- Prayer Vigil: This is the principal rite celebrated between death and the funeral itself. It is the first stage of the farewell journey; its mood is one of quiet support which helps to prepare the bereaved for the final leave-taking. The Vigil or wake may be held in the home of the deceased, the funeral home, or in another suitable place, for instance a hospital chapel. It may also be celebrated in church. The body of the deceased may be present, but this is not necessary. The form of the service is a simple Liturgy of the Word of God or Evening Prayer.
- Funeral Liturgy: This is the main celebration of the Christian community for the deceased person. It is usually celebrated in the parish church where the local community gathers for the Sunday Eucharist. Sometimes people may celebrate the Funeral Liturgy in a crematorium or cemetery chapel. Two forms are possible: a funeral Mass, (also called the Requiem Mass) or a funeral liturgy outside Mass. The Church encourages a Mass since the eucharist remembers and celebrates Christ’s own death and resurrection. However, while the eucharist is our central liturgy, it is not always the best option for every funeral. To celebrate a funeral without Mass is a valid form of Catholic worship.
- Committal: The rite of committal usually follows on immediately from the funeral liturgy. This final act of leave-taking is celebrated at the graveside or at the crematorium. When a body is cremated the funeral liturgy is concluded with the interring of ashes sometime afterwards.
While we are encouraged to celebrate a funeral over these three stages, for a variety of reasons this model is not always possible or appropriate to the circumstances. Many combinations of funeral rites are possible. The funeral may even comprise a single act of worship either in the cemetery chapel or crematorium.
What choices can I make?
More than you think. Not only can you choose the hymns but also scripture readings and prayers.
Can I have a poem or favourite song?
Yes, there are opportunities for personal choices in each of the three stages of the funeral. Secular poems and songs often fit best in the prayer vigil, but there is also an opportunity for ‘Words in Remembrance’ towards the end of the funeral liturgy. Care should be taken that the words of any material is in keeping with our Christian faith.
Can a stillborn baby have a funeral?
Yes, the Church provides a special service for a stillborn baby. It can also be adapted for parents who have suffered a miscarriage.
What about cremation?
Catholics in this country can be cremated. However, the Church encourages the bereaved to bury the ashes in a final resting place.