WHAT TO DO WHEN A DEATH OCCURS
“And Jesus wept.” This is the shortest verse in the all the Scriptures and describes Jesus’s reaction at learning of the death of his friend Lazarus. In his divinity, Jesus knew he was about to raise Lazarus from the dead; and yet, Jesus, in his humanity, grieved like we all do when we lose someone we love.
“Peace be with you.” These were the words Jesus spoke to His disciples on that first Easter morning just three days after his death. They were feeling anything but peaceful at the time, but with these words they began to gain a new understanding of Jesus’s death and resurrection and the promise they gave for everlasting life.
Like the disciples we, too, often feel anything but peaceful at the time of the death of a loved one, no matter how prepared we were for it. But also, like the disciples, we have this promise of everlasting life which sustains us and gives us peace in the hope that we will be reunited with those we love.
At the same time we struggle to understand the reality of death and the hope of resurrection, we are faced with the need to make funeral arrangements. Many of our Catholic faithful find themselves in this experience with little or no prior knowledge. Here at Our Lady of Consolation, we offer the following information to help you in the arrangements for a Catholic funeral and burial following the death of a loved one.
The funeral home is usually the first place to be contacted immediately following a death. Our parish community has trained pastoral ministers available for liturgical funeral planning at the time of the funeral. There are three areas which require attention when making funeral arrangements:
Liturgical and Spiritual
The liturgical and spiritual questions are most properly the concern of the Pastor, Parochial Vicar, the Parish Secretary, Music Director, and the parish community.
These involve planning the Funeral Rites for the deceased as laid out by the Church.
Legal
Legal matters that need to be addressed are usually cared for at the funeral home by the Funeral Director (i.e. death certificate, etc.)
Cemetery & Burial
Questions regarding the cemetery and burial are best addressed to the Parish Office who works with the Funeral Home.
Decisions regarding these three elements are best made with the Funeral Home at the outset of formulating the funeral arrangements. With Roman Catholic liturgical considerations in mind, funeral arrangements can be made with the Funeral Director of your choice and Our Lady of Consolation ministers.