In the face of death, the Church confidently proclaims that God has created each person for eternal life and that Jesus, the Son of God, by his death and resurrection, has broken the chains of sin and death that bound humanity. For Christians, the funeral rites are proclamations of our share in the Paschal Mystery, the death and resurrection of Christ.
It is customary to celebrate the death of a member of the Church in three stages: visitation at the funeral home with a Vigil of Prayer (usually the day before the Funeral), the Celebration of Mass at the church, and the Rite of Committal at the cemetery.
It is the preference of the Church that the body of the deceased is present for the Funeral Mass; however, it is also possible to have the cremated remains present for the Mass. In particular circumstances the Funeral Mass may be replaced with a Funeral Liturgy (Liturgy of the Word only) celebrated in the Church or Funeral Home.
When death occurs, family members are asked to contact the Parish Office for an appointment to plan the funeral rites for their loved ones. Arrangements for the funeral liturgies are to be made with the Parish prior to meeting with the Funeral Home.