Funerals The responsibility for the ministry of consolation rests with the believing community, which heeds the words and example of the Lord Jesus: “Blessed are they who mourn; they shall be consoled” (Matthew 5:3). Each Christian shares in this ministry according to the various gifts and offices in the Church. The faith of the Christian community in the resurrection of the dead brings support and strength to those who suffer the loss of those whom they love. At the time of death, please call the rectory for the prayers and support of the parish. The Funeral Director also assists in the preparations for the Funeral Mass, and works with the parish priests. Funerals should normally be celebrated in the parish church of the deceased. However, any member of the faithful, or those in charge of the deceased person’s funeral, may choose another church; this requires the consent of whoever is in charge of that church and a notification to the pastor of the deceased. The Church permits cremation provided that it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body, but prefers and urges that the body of the deceased be present for the funeral rites, since the presence of the human body better expresses the values which the Church affirms in those rites. However, when circumstances necessitate cremation before the funeral liturgy, the Mass may be celebrated in the presence of the cremated remains. Since in baptism the body was marked with the seal of the Trinity and became the temple of the Holy Spirit, Christians respect and honor the bodies of the dead and the places where they rest. A Catholic cemetery is considered a sacred place, and supports our belief in the resurrection of the body and the communion of saints. After a cremation, the ashes are buried in a cemetery. It is only by way of exception that a Catholic is permitted burial in a non-Catholic cemetery. Whenever possible the family should be involved in planning the funeral rites: e.g. in the choice of readings and readers, and in the selection of music. Following are some frequently asked questions and their respective answers regarding Catholic Cemeteries and funerals. 1. What makes a Catholic Cemetery special? 2. May non-Catholics be buried in a Catholic Cemetery? 3. Is Cremation an acceptable option? 4. Can I arrange my burial wishes in advance?  5. Bequests: 6. What about a eulogy? What makes a Catholic Cemetery special? Each Catholic Cemetery in the Archdiocese has been consecrated by the Archbishop of Kingston. Thus, this blessing makes the area of the Catholic Cemetery sacred and reminds each of us of the hope in which we all live and die and await the promise of the Resurrection when Our Lord Jesus Christ arrives at the end of time. As we say in the Nicene Creed: “We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” And in the Apostles’ Creed: “We believe in ... the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.” These are places where it is often good to go and pray for your loved one. The gravesite focuses the mind and heart and is a wonderful place to pray for their eternal rest. The prayer that we normally offer for the dead is: “Eternal rest grant unto N., O Lord, And let perpetual light shine up on him/her. May his/her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen.” May non-Catholics be buried in a Catholic Cemetery? Yes. We believe that families should remain together even in death. A spouse, child, parent or relative who is not a Catholic may be buried in a Catholic Cemetery with the rest of his/her Catholic family. Is Cremation an acceptable option? The Church’s age old tradition has been to bury the body of its deceased members. However, cremation is an acceptable option after the funeral. For a funeral Mass to be celebrated the body must be present. Following the Funeral Mass the body would then be taken to the crematorium and interment would take place the following day. The Mass for cremations that have occurred immediately after death is different from the Funeral Mass in the presence of the body. In this instance a regular Mass of remembrance is offered in the presence of the Ashes. We treat the ashes of a person with the same dignity we would treat the body of a person. Scattering the person’s ashes on water or on the ground, or keeping the remains in the home of a relative or friend, is not considered properly respectful. We would never do that with a body so we should not do so with Ashes. Ashes should be buried in a grave or entombed immediately following the cremation or no later than the following day. Can I arrange my burial wishes in advance?  Preplanning will relieve your family of the emotional burden of making stressful decisions at the time of a death. By preplanning you ensure that your wishes will be known and carried out. You can even make suggestions for the Scriptural readings and hymns for your funeral Mass. It is a good idea to keep this with your will and make it known to your family members, especially your executors. Bequests: We have received many generous bequests over the past few years. Please remember your parish in your will so that this beautiful property can be maintained and the celebration of the Sacraments can continue at Holy Name of Mary, St. Charles and St. Vincent de Paul. What about a eulogy? Although the Catholic funeral Mass is an opportunity to remember the person who died, remember that it is a celebration of the saving mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection and therefore is an act of praise and worship of God and focuses on the eternal life for which we all hope. That is why a eulogy, which is a speech praising someone who has died is not part of a Catholic funeral. It is important in the grieving process, however, for people to share memories. There are two other, more appropriate, occasions when personal remembering can take place. At the wake, you can invite family members, friends, or colleagues to speak about what the deceased person meant to them. People can also share personal memories at the reception after the funeral Mass. At a recent workshop for the priests of the Archdiocese of Kingston the Liturgical Commission encouraged all of the priests to follow this directive so that there would be consistency throughout the Archdiocese.

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