Catholic Funeral

When you come to arrange a funeral, you may have had recent contact with your local Catholic parish in connection with the sickness of your loved one, or it may be a long time since you or the deceased had any contact with the Church. Either way, be assured that the local Catholic priest and community will welcome you and do all they can to help you with the funeral arrangements.

There is no longer any prohibition on Catholics being cremated. Assuming that a decision has already been made between cremation and burial, the main choice you will need to make is whether to have a funeral Mass at the Church beforehand or not. If in doubt, go and talk to your parish priest about this, and do go and see him anyway, or ask him to come and visit you at home, to discuss the details of the service.

A non-Catholic spouse who dies can have a Catholic funeral, if during their lifetime they showed a particular attachment to the parish of the Catholic rather than the parish of their own church and/or requested a Catholic funeral.

Remember that no firm arrangements should be made for the funeral until he / she has spoken to your priest. Especially in these days when priests are fewer than they used to be, your priest may have other arrangements which he cannot change for the time you would like the funeral, or the Church may already be booked for something else.

In planning the service, bear in mind that secular music and readings are not permitted in a Mass, and that the homily is primarily an exposition of Catholic faith in the Resurrection rather than a tribute to your loved one. If you wish someone to speak briefly about the deceased, this is more appropriate at the cemetery or at the reception after the funeral.

A statue of Our Lady at Holy Cross Church