The Christian funeral liturgy tells us that life is changed, not ended. Funerals are acts of faith. Jesus, who walks with us through all our other events in life, is present at our funerals, the liturgy of the passage from death to eternal life. Arrangements for a funeral should include a Mass and burial in a Catholic cemetery whenever possible.

It is preferable that the body be buried in a cemetery or columbarium (repository for cremated remains) consecrated for this purpose. We bury the body or the cremated remains of a person once washed with baptismal water, anointed with the oils of Confirmation and the Sacrament of the Sick, and nourished by the Eucharist.

Church Expenses:
Ordinarily all the church expenses associated with the funeral liturgy (including church offering, and the fees for the organist and the cantor) are taken care of by the funeral director prior to the funeral mass. The family would make payment to the funeral director, who in turn, pays the parish. The church then distributes the appropriate offerings to the individuals involved.

Funeral Luncheons:
Please know that our Parish Hall is usually available for luncheons after the funeral. The family is expected to arrange the food arrangement for a luncheon. Please contact the Pastor if you are interested in a luncheon. 608-874-4151.

Cremation:
In recent years, the Catholic Church has lifted the prohibition against the practice of cremation and has revised the rites for services with cremated remains. While the church favors cremation after the funeral liturgy, it realizes that financial constraints or other circumstances may result in the desire for cremation before the funeral service. The cremated remains can be brought into the church for the Funeral Mass. Typically, the priest or deacon will accompany the cremated remains to the cemetery for committal after the funeral. It is possible to have a picture of the deceased placed in the entrance of the church or near the cremains.

Whenever a Catholic is cremated, the remains are to be treated as if they were a body; not mixed or scattered. The cremated remains should be interred in a burial grave, columbarium, or mausoleum.

Times for Funeral Masses:
Funeral Masses are normally held Monday through Friday at 11am. Saturday Funerals are permitted keeping in mind Confession (3pm) and Mass time 4pm. Sundays funerals can be considered under certain conditions. Funerals cannot be held on Holy Days of Obligation, on Holy Thursday and the Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and on the Sundays of Advent, Lent, and the Sundays from Easter to Pentecost.

A basic outline of a Catholic Funeral Liturgy:

Sprinkling with Holy Water & placing of Pall (cloth) on Casket

Processional Hymn/Music
Opening Prayers
First Reading
Responsorial Psalm read or sung as a Hymn/Music
Second Reading
Gospel Acclamation
Gospel Reading
Homily
Prayer of the Faithful/Petitions/Intercessions

Four added parts if the Funeral Liturgy is with Mass:

Presentation of Gifts (omitted during the Covid-19 Crisis)
Offertory Hymn/Music
Communion
Communion Hymn/Music

Closing Prayer

Incensing the casket/urn with Prayers/Song of Farewell

Final Commendation (farewell)
Recessional Hymn/Music

The Funeral liturgy has the following sequence:

Introductory Rites
The priest greets those gathered and sprinkles the casket with holy water as a reminder of our Baptism. The casket is then covered with the white funeral pall, a symbol of the new life in the resurrection which we received at the time of our Baptism. If the family wishes, members may unfold the pall and place it over the casket. (If cremation has taken place before the funeral, the placing of the pall is omitted.) This is followed by the opening prayer.

Liturgy of the Word
During this part of the Mass, the first reading is chosen from the Old Testament (during Easter Time New Testament).

Click here for the Funeral Readings Worksheet form.