Funeral Liturgy Guide
Introduction
Our role is to help families create a funeral ceremony that honours the life of their loved ones in a way that fully reflects and respects their wishes and beliefs.
You are encouraged to be fully involved in planning your loved one’s funeral liturgy. It is the final journey of your loved one. In the liturgy, we celebrate your loved one’s life of faith; we commend them to the Lord. Your local priest/celebrant is there to help and guide you through this difficult time. In planning the liturgy, you will need to provide your priest/celebrant with some biographical information about your deceased loved one that will help them in preparing the funeral homily.
READINGS
The first reading is from the Old Testament (view sample readings here).
The second reading is from the New Testament (view sample readings here).
There are specific readings that must be used during the church year which your priest/celebrant will advise. You will find a large selection of suitable readings in this booklet to help and guide you, but you are free to choose your own in discussion with your priest/celebrant.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
The responsorial psalm comes between the two readings and can either be read or sung by your singer. You will find a number of responsorial psalms in this booklet, but, again, you are free to choose your own.
In making your choice, you should take into account the recommendation that, if at all possible, the responsorial psalm or the response to it should be sung (view sample psalms here).
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
Choose or compose the general intersession, which comes after the homily.
In general intercessions, we pray not only for the deceased and their family and friends but also for all the dead and those who mourn them. We pray also for the wider community. One or more family members should read the general intercessions.
Choose family members or friends of the deceased to bring the gifts of bread and wine to the altar. You should keep in mind that the presentation of the gifts is not the time to carry up personal memorabilia or symbols of the life of the deceased; this is done at the beginning of the Mass.
Talk this through with your priest as to which way it is done in your church.
(View sample prayers of the faithful here).
HYMNS & MUSIC
Choose the hymns and music for the funeral Mass. Your singer will also be a great guide in helping you choose your selection. (View sample hymns here).
REFLECTIONS
After communion time, you might decide to have a reflection read. You can find a selection of these here.
EULOGY / WORDS OF APPRECIATION
If you decide to have a eulogy/words of appreciation in honour of your deceased loved one, there are a number of things to keep in mind.
It should be short, no longer than 5 minutes.
It should be delivered by a family member or close friend of the deceased.
It should contain only words of tribute to the deceased and thanks to those who have helped or supported the deceased’s family during this sad time.
The eulogy/words of appreciation usually takes place after communion, before the final commendation and farewell, but some churches prefer this to take place before the funeral mass itself.