Paul W Kelly

[ FUNERAL –ORDER ] :

Here is the basic order of service for A Catholic funeral: [please delete the section in square brackets if it is not a Mass]

1. Entrance Hymn * (please choose suitable hymn)

2. Placing of Christian Symbols (can be placed from beginning or family places reminder’s of your beloved’s life at this point). (this is optional).

3. Invitation to Prayer (priest)

4. Words of Remembrance (Eulogy). Given by a family member or friend. One single Eulogy written by all the family is often the most effective. It provides a united picture of your beloved. If there are more than one to speak, they preferably will still read parts of the one united Eulogy, for consistency and flow. The best eulogies run to about four to seven minutes in total (that is, all eulogies are completed after seven minutes, so if you have three people speaking they speak for two minutes each, or if you felt you needed seven people speaking they each would only speak for one minute. Ideally, the fewer speakers the better. Please do not invite people to speak generally, and people should not come to the funeral expecting that they can just come up and speak without discussing it and having it approved by the celebrant prior to the day of the funeral).

5. Opening Prayer (priest)  

6. LITURGY OF THE WORD

   1. First Bible Reading: (Family or friend to read). This must be a Christian Bible reading.

 

1. Responsorial Psalm: (choose a hymn* here or Family or friend to read). This must be a religious hymn or a spoken text from the section of the Bible called the Psalms

 

1. (optional). Second Reading: (Family or friend to read). This must be a Christian Bible reading.

2. Gospel: (Always read by the Priest, or a Catholic Deacon). This must be a Christian Bible reading.

3. Homily (also known as sermon).  (by the priest)

4. General Intercessions (Family or friend to read).

5. [please delete this section in the brackets if you are planning only a prayer service and not a Mass or Eucharist

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

• Preparation of the Gifts (two members of family or friends to bring up bread and wine offerings)

• Prayer over the Gifts (priest)

• Communion Hymn* (or instrumental music).

• Period of Silence or Thanksgiving hymn *

• Prayer after Communion ]

• FINAL COMMENDATION RITES (priest)

  • Prayer of Farewell (priest)

  • (At the Prayer of Farewell the coffin is incensed and sprinkled with water)

 

• Prayer of Commendation (priest)

• Procession to the Place of Committal

• (please choose a suitable hymn* here)