One of the most sensitive times in people’s lives is the loss of a loved one. Despite our Christian belief in the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting purchased for us by Christ and promised to us in baptism when we are given life in Christ’s own death and resurrection, the physical reality is that of final separation from a loved one and an irreversible loss. When someone dies, those family and friends left behind all grieve in different ways. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Everyone grieves their own way and their own pace.
The funeral home you have chosen will work with you and the parish to schedule your funeral liturgy. They will give you a booklet titled Through Death into Life. A member of the Bereavement Team will meet with you to help arrange the Funeral Mass. You will choose the first and second readings and the songs for the Funeral Liturgy. The list of sacred music is available here. You will choose one Old Testament reading (C1 to C7) and one New Testament reading (E1 to E15) which are available here. (PLEASE NOTE: from Easter Sunday to Pentecost, there is no Old Testament reading. The first reading is chosen from C8 to C11).
You might like to preplan your own Funeral Liturgy. If you are interested, please call 630-852-3303 and we will have a Bereavement Minister meet with you.
After a death, we all need the support, care, prayer, and love of our church friends and family. The Bereavement Minister not only meets with the family to arrange the Funeral Liturgy and express the sympathy of the parish, but also attends the wake and the funeral when possible.
To plan a funeral or to become a part of this ministry, please call Father Jeff Smialek at 630-852-3303 or frjeff@ourladyofmtcarmel.org.
GATHERING RITES
LITURGY OF THE WORD
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
RITE OF COMMENDATION
The Rite of Christian Funerals was revised recently to allow the same funeral rites for cremains (ashes) as for the deceased body, although the Church still prefers the preservation of the body.
Cremains that are present may be sprinkled with holy water, incensed and then the same liturgical prayers (with just a few adaptations) are used at the Mass. Cremains are usually placed at the front of the main aisle with the Paschal Candle.
If the family is going to have the body cremated, the church prefers that the body be present at the Funeral Liturgy and the cremation takes place afterwards.