Letter from the Pastor

Dear Friends, 

Jesus assured the crowd gathered to hear him, “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4) As you grieve, may you be comforted by the love of Christ and the support of the members of the parish family of Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

This booklet is given to you as a service of our parish Bereavement Ministry, to help guide you through the funeral rites of the Church. These funeral rites are meant to help you grow in the hope that, through the Spirit of Jesus, we on earth still share in a special union with our loved ones who celebrate the fullness of life with the Risen Christ. As you participate in these rites and as other gather to support you in the difficult days ahead, you will be in the prayers of many people.

You will be asked to choose hymns and scripture readings, and to consider family and friends who can participate in the funeral rites by assisting with readings and prayers. As you choose the prayers, readings, and music, I hope your choices make these rites of the Church a source of comfort for you and your family, and reflect the life of the loved one who has died. 

As you review the suggestions offered in this booklet, please realize that within the Catholic Church, there are funeral rites with or without a Mass. Both forms are officially recognized rites in the Church.

Members of our parish Bereavement Committee and I will work with you to plan prayer services and a funeral liturgy that will help you as you both mourn and honor the person who has died. Be assured that the parish family and I will continue to pray for you and your family.

Sincerely,

Fr. Gregory Fedor

Pastor, St. Blaise Parish 

Catholic funeral rites offer praise and thanksgiving to God for the life of your loved one, prayers for the deceased loved one, and support those who mourn.

Our Catholic funeral practices take place in three movements through the process of Christian burial: 

1. The Prayer Vigil

This is the first stage through which the parish helps with prayer.  A priest, deacon, or lay leader of prayer will preside at a service for family and friends at the wake.

2. The Funeral Liturgy

This is the main celebration of the Christian community for the deceased loved one. The following pages will help with the preparations.

The Church has two forms for this liturgy: 

1. In the Funeral Home without Mass (Sometimes suggested if a large number of family and friends are not familiar with the Mass of Christian Burial) OR
2. In Church with Mass

3. The Committal

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The signs and symbols of our services are meant to give you comfort and hope.   Some of these are:

The Easter Candle: 

Christ is the Light of the World.  At Easter, we light the large paschal (Easter) candle to symbolize that Christ has conquered sin and death, and lives among us now.  During the funeral, we burn this candle as a reminder that your loved one shares in Christ’s victory.

The Pall and Crucifix:

A large white cloth is draped over the coffin as a symbol of the baptismal garment — a sign that your loved one was baptized in Christ, lived as a member of the Body of Christ, and now shares in Christ’s glory.  Family members and friends have the opportunity to place the pall on the casket.  On top of the pall, the priest will place a crucifix as a reminder that Christ shared in our humanity and death, so we have hope for our share in the resurrection. 

Sprinkling with Holy Water:

This action also recalls baptism, when holy water brought your loved one into the life of Christ, and now is a sign of hope for eternal life. 

Incense:

Incense is a symbol of the prayers for your loved one rising up to God, as the smoke of the incense rises up.  When the priest incenses around the casket, it is a sign of our respect for the body of your loved one, and our commending him or her to God. 

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The following form can be partially competed, saved, and returned to at a later date if you cannot compete it in one sitting.

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If you are having the showing of the deceased at the church, the showing must take place in the rear of the church.

Cremation Guidance

If the family has chosen cremation, the cremains should be present in church, along with a photograph or portrait of the deceased.  

[Cremation and the Order of Christian Funerals.]  From the Newsletter of the Committee on Divine Worship (January 2012) USCCB

The cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they come. This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the manner in which they are carried, and the care and attention to appropriate placement and transport, and the final disposition.

The cremated remains should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium. The practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground, or keeping cremated remains in the home of a relative or friend of the deceased are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires. (no.417)

Words of Remembrance:

GUIDANCE FOR WORDS OF REMEMBRANCE

When writing words of remembrance for your loved ones, the most important aspect to think about is the deceased. At this time, when we think about the deceased in this Mass environment, please reflect upon the Christian ceremony in which this will be presented.

This is not a time to thank people who have been part of their life, nor is it a time to tell jokes or long-drawn-out family stories. It is a time to remember who this person was in the eyes of Christ and how their lives were moved by their faith. Please leave the jokes and family stories to your memorial luncheon. 

1. It must be no longer than 5 to 8 minutes.  Any longer it will interfere with the rest of the integrity and emphasis of the Mass.
2. It should only be 2 pages typed, double spaced, on one side and large enough to read easily.
3. You can include some of their favorite activities, such as family and church involvement.  
4. You need to emphasis their faith and again no inside jokes, inappropriate language or stories. 
5. Text needs to be submitted for approval prior to Mass by email if possible.

NOTE: We have noticed that unprepared texts lead to repetition, poor organization, and rambling which tend to exceed allotted time of more than 5 to 8 minutes.

Universal Prayer (The Petitions)

*Please Respond-Lord, hear our prayer

For _____________  Who in baptism was given the pledge eternal life, That he/she may now be admitted to the company of the saints.

*We pray to the Lord: (All respond) Lord, hear our prayer.

For our brother/sister who ate the body of Christ, the bread of life, that she may be raised up on the last day. 

*We pray to the Lord: (All respond) Lord, hear our prayer.

For our deceased relatives and friends, and for all who have helped us, that they may have the reward of their goodness.

*We pray to the Lord: (All respond) Lord, hear our prayer

For those who have fallen asleep in this hope of rising again, that they may see God face to face.

*We pray to the Lord: (All respond) Lord, hear our prayer

For the family and friends of our brother/sister, ____________ That they may be consoled in their grief by the Lord, who wept at the death of his friend Lazarus.

*We pray to the Lord: (All respond) Lord, hear our prayer

For all of us assembled here to worship in faith, that we may be gathered together again in God’s kingdom.

*We pray to the Lord: (All respond) Lord, hear our prayer

HYMNS:

(Choose four: Entrance, Offertory, Communion, Recessional) Choose favorite church Hymns or select from the following:

All is Well with My Soul

Alleluia, Alleluia (Ode to Joy)

Alleluia, Sing to Jesus

Alleluia, the Strife is Over

Amazing Grace

Ave Maria

Be Not Afraid

Blest Are They

Christ, the Lord, is Risen Today

City of God

Eye Has Not Seen

For All the Saints

Hail Mary, Gentle Woman Here I Am Lord

How Great Thou Art

I Am the Bread of Life

I Heard the Voice of Jesus

I Know that My Redeemer Lives Jesus Christ is Risen Today

Now We remain

On Eagle’s Wings

Prayer of St. Francis

Precious Lord Take My Hand

Sing with All the Saints in Glory

Softly and Tenderly, Jesus Calling

Song of the Body of Christ

The Old Rugged Cross

We Remember

We Walk by Faith

We Will Rise Again

You Are Mine

You Are Near

*If you have a song that is not on this list, please let your bereavement facilitator know and they will ask the Music Director if the song can still be used.

Psalm: Please select a Responsorial Psalm

Shepherd Me, O God- Psalm 23

Shepherd me O God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life.

1. God is my shepherd, so nothing shall I want, I rest in the meadow of faithfulness and love, I walk by the quiet waters of peace.
2. Gently you raise me and heal my weary soul, you lead me by pathways of righteousness and love, my spirit shall sing the music of your name.
3. Though I should wander the valley of death, I fear no evil for you are at my side, your rod and your staff, my comfort and my hope.
4. Surely your kindness and mercy follow me, all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of my God forevermore. 

The Lord is My Light and My Salvation- Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation, of whom should I be afraid, of whom should I be afraid.

1. The Lord is my light and my help; whom should, I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; before whom should I shrink?
2. There is one thing I ask of the Lord; for this I long; to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
3. I believe I shall see the goodness of the Lord, in the land of the living; hope in him, and take heart, hope in the Lord!

First Reading-select one of the following_: 

1. A reading from the book of Job (19:1, 23-27)  

Job answered and said,
Oh, would that my words were written down!
Would that they were inscribed in a record:
That with an iron chisel and with lead they were cut in the rock forever!
As for me, I know that my vindicator lives, and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust.
This will happen when my skin has been stripped off, and from my flesh I will see God:
I will see for myself, my own eyes, not another’s, will behold him:
my inmost being is consumed with longing.

                                                            The word of the Lord. 

2. A reading from the book of Wisdom (3:1-6, 9) 

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if to others, indeed, they seem punished, yet is their hope full of immortality;
Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings^* he took them to himself.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect.

                                                            The word of the Lord.                                

3. A reading from the book of Proverbs (31: 10, 17, 20, 25-31) Who can find a woman of worth?

Far beyond jewels is her value.
She girds herself with strength; she exerts her arms with vigor.
She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy.
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and laughs at the days to come.
She opens her mouth in wisdom; kindly instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband, too, praises her:
“Many are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled them all.”
Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Acclaim her for the work of her hands, and let her deeds praise her at the city gates.

                                                                     The word of the Lord.

 4. A reading from the book of Ecclesiastes (3:1-11)                                                                                                                                                     

There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.
A time to give birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

                                                        The word of the Lord. 

5. A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah (25:6a, 7-9)

On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples.
On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations.
He will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.
On that day it will be said:
“Indeed, this is our God; we looked to him, and he saved us!
This is the LORD to whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”

                                                            The word of the Lord. 

6. A reading from the book of Lamentations (3:17-26)

My soul is deprived of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; I tell myself my future is lost, all that I hoped for from the Lord.
The thought of my homeless poverty is wormwood and gall; remembering it over and over leaves my soul downcast within me.
But I will call this to mind, as my reason to have hope:
The favors of the Lord are not exhausted, his mercies are not spent; they are renewed each morning, so great is his faithfulness.
My portion is the Lord, says my soul; therefore, will I hope in him. Good is the Lord to one, who waits for him, to the soul that seeks him; It is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the Lord. 

                              The word of the Lord.

7. A reading from the book of Daniel (12:1-3)

I, Daniel, mourned and I heard this word of the Lord: 
“At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, the guardian of your people; It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; Some shall live forever; others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace. But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, And those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.

                                                                    The Word of the Lord.

8. A reading from the book of Wisdom (4:7-15)

The just man, though he die early, shall be at rest.
For the age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time, nor can it be measured in terms of years.
Rather, understanding is the hoary crown for men and an, unsullied life, the attainment of old age.
He who pleased God was loved; he who lived among sinners was transported.
Snatched away, lest wickedness pervert his mind or deceit beguile his soul. For the witchery of paltry things obscures what is right and the whirl of desire transforms the innocent mind.
Having become perfect in a short while, he reached the fullness of a long career; For his soul was pleasing to the Lord, therefore he sped him out of the midst of wickedness. 
But the people saw and did not understand, nor did they take this into account.

The Word of the Lord.

Second Reading- select one of the following:  

1. A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans (6:3-4, 8-9)

Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus and were baptized into his death?
We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.
For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin.
For a dead person has been absolved from sin. 
If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.

                                                            The word of the Lord. 

2. A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans (8:14-22a)

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, “Abba, Father!”
The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. 
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.
For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.

                                                            The word of the Lord. 

3. A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans (8:31b-35, 37-39)

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones?  It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn?  It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? As it is written: “For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

                                           The word of the Lord.

4. A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (13:1-8a)

If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. 
And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love does not come to an end.             

The word of the Lord. 

5. A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (15:20-28)

Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came also through a human being. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for “he subjected everything under his feet.” But when it says that everything has been subjected, it is clear that it excludes the one who subjected everything to him. When everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.

                                                     The word of the Lord.

6. A reading from second letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (4:14-5:1)

We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence.  Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.  Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 

For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal. 

For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.

                                         The word of the Lord.

 7. A reading from the second letter of St. Paul to Timothy (4:6-8)

For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.

                                                            The word of the Lord. 

8. A reading from the first letter of St. John (3:1-2)

See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed.  We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

                                                            The word of the Lord. 

 9. A reading from the book of Revelation (21:1-7)

I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.”
The one who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”  Then he said, “Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true.” He said to me, “They are accomplished. I [am] the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water. The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son.”

                          The word of the Lord.

10. A reading from the book of Revelation (14:13)

 I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” said the Spirit, “let them find rest from their labors, for their works accompany them.”

                                                             The word of the Lord. 

11. A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians(4:13-18)

We do not want to be unaware, brothers about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus Bring with him those who have fallen asleep. In deed we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel

And with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, console one another with these words.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel Reading-select one of the following:  

1. A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew (5:1-12a)

When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.

                                                                                The gospel of the Lord. 

2. A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew (11:25-30) Jesus said,

“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.

Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father.  No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

                                                                                The gospel of the Lord. 

3. A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew (25: 31-40)

Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him.  And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right,  ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’

Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’

And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

                                                                   The gospel of the Lord. 

4. A reading from the holy gospel according to John (5:24-29a)

Jesus said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to his Son the possession of life in himself.

And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life.” 

                                                       The gospel of the Lord. 

5. A reading from the holy gospel according to John (6:37-40)

Jesus said to the crowd: “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”

The gospel of the Lord.  

6. A reading from the holy gospel according to John (6:51-58)

Jesus said to the crowd: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven.  Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

                                                                           The gospel of the Lord. 

7. A reading from the holy gospel according to John (12:23-28)

Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.

                                                                                          The gospel of the Lord. 

8. A reading from the holy gospel according to John (14:1-7a)

Jesus told his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.”^*

Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father.”                                                        

                                                                           The gospel of the Lord.

9. A reading from the holy gospel according to John (11:21-27)

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming in to the world.”

                                                               The gospel of the Lord.

Funeral Meal: 

CLICK HERE to learn more about funeral meal options at our IHM Campus, or call 330-270-0650.

CLICK HERE to learn more about funeral meal options at our St. Joseph Campus, or call 330-792-1919.

Room rental is free for funeral meals of parishioners. 

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WHY PLANNING FUNERAL RITES

• Provide an opportunity for prayer for the deceased and the bereaved.

• Rites encourage the hope for eternal life in the midst of sadness.

• Funeral service reveals God’s mercy.  Seek forgiveness and reconciliation.

• Funeral rites deal honestly and directly the reality of death.

• Opportunity to offer prayer, praise & thanksgiving for the gift of a life which now has been returned to God.

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