St. Joseph Catholic Church
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Funeral
The death of a loved one is a difficult time for families. At St. Joseph’s, our commitment is to assist the family of the deceased in preparing a meaningful celebration of life both on earth and eternal life.
Below is a form that you can fill out which will be helpful to you in planning the funeral. If this is the first time you’ve planned a Catholic funeral, here are some helpful notes for you to read before filling out the form.
What do I do first?
1. Call a local funeral home. The normal procedure after the news of death is to contact the funeral home first. The funeral home will then contact St. Joseph’s to determine possible times and dates for a funeral Mass/Liturgy. The funeral director will work with St. Joseph parish staff to set up the details of the visitation, funeral Mass, luncheon and internment. Funeral directors are very helpful to the parish in that they arrange for the times of the events, assist in setting up for the visitation and help the family in coordinating the luncheon and interment. They also provide valuable assistance with programs, easels, guest books and tables for pictures and memory displays.
2. Meet with the funeral director. The family will meet with the funeral director and confirm the date and time of the funeral.
3. Meet with the priest or deacon. Family members should then contact St. Joseph’s to arrange for a meeting with the priest or deacon who will preside at the funeral. Our parish phone number is (906)632-9625. This meeting is a good chance to connect and pray together for the deceased, to reflect on their life, and to plan out the funeral liturgy.
You are welcome to fill out this online form to begin the planning process prior to meeting with the priest or deacon who will preside over the funeral rites. (Again, it’s best to call or to touch base with them first). No funeral planning is finalized until after a meeting with the presider of the funeral.
3 parts of a Funeral Liturgy
A full Catholic funeral consists of three parts
- Vigil Prayers at the Funeral Home (usually the night before)
- Funeral Mass at the Church
- Rite of Committal at the cemetery
For various reasons, many families decide to celebrate only one or two of these parts of the funeral rites.
The standard liturgy for a deceased Catholic who was in good standing with the Church is a Mass, with the body present. A Mass should always be the presumed format. (Be aware that vigils and wakes do not occur in the Church, but at the funeral home.)
Information for Death Register
