In the funeral rites, the Church prays for the dead and walks with the living. We commend a loved one to God's mercy and proclaim the hope of resurrection in Jesus Christ.
When someone you love dies, the Church walks with you. A Catholic funeral commends the one who has died to God's mercy and surrounds the family with prayer, scripture, and hope in the resurrection.
A gift of grace
The Church prays for the dead, consoles the living, and proclaims the hope of resurrection in Jesus Christ.
A call to grow
The funeral rites help a family grieve truthfully, entrust a loved one to God's mercy, and stay connected to the parish after burial.
How Funerals begins
- 1
Call the parish
Contact us as soon as you are able, even before all details are settled.
- 2
Meet with a priest
Choose readings, music, and the form of the funeral liturgy.
- 3
Pray for the dead
The Church commends your loved one to God's mercy.
- 4
Keep walking
The parish remains available after the funeral.
What to prepare
Call the parish office as soon as you are able, even before speaking with a funeral home. A priest will meet with you to plan the funeral Mass or service, choose readings, and arrange the details.
- Name of the person who has died
- Funeral home contact, if already chosen
- Preferred church, date, and type of liturgy
- Family contact person for readings, music, and details
Call the parish as soon as you are able, even if not every detail is settled.
A Catholic funeral is an act of worship and an act of love. We give thanks for a life, we pray for the one who has died, and we hear again the promise at the centre of our faith: that death does not have the last word.
What the parish provides
The funeral may take the form of a full funeral Mass or a liturgy outside Mass, at any of our four churches. A priest will help you choose scripture readings and music, arrange a vigil (prayer service) the evening before if desired, and accompany the burial or interment. There is no charge for the church or the priest, though families often make an offering.
In the days that follow
Grief does not end with the funeral. Our pastoral care ministry visits, prays with, and supports the bereaved. You are welcome at any Mass, and you may request that a Mass be offered for your loved one at any time: simply call the office.