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Dear Family Members and Friends of the Deceased,
The family of the Parish of St. John Neumann offers you our sympathy, together with the assurance of our prayers as you grieve the death of your loved one. We want to do all we can to support, console, and assist you at this difficult and busy time. Since the funeral rites of the Catholic Church will occupy a central place in the days ahead, we offer you a Funeral Liturgy Planning book (available at the parish rectory) as a guide to these liturgies. The funeral of a Christian is meant to commend the deceased to God’s merciful love, to offer God worship, praise and thanksgiving for the gift of his or her life, and to bring hope and consolation to the living through the Word of God and the sacrament of the Eucharist. By involving yourselves in planning the funeral liturgy, this prayer will more closely and powerfully express the faith in Jesus Christ which still binds you to your loved one and to the members of the Church.
- LITURGY FORMAT SHEET: Please ask the Funeral Director to copy this sheet and use it to record information that will help us to know your loved one better, and also your preferences for the funeral liturgy. The Funeral Director can fax a copy to the Rectory, 708-798-6137 or email [email protected]
- READINGS FROM SACRED SCRIPTURE: A Funeral Mass ordinarily incorporates three biblical readings. The first is taken from the Old Testament, the second from the New Testament Epistles, and the third from the Gospels. A psalm will be sung between the first and second readings. You may also choose readers for the first and second readings. If you do so, please ask the Funeral Director to make copies from the Funeral Liturgy Planning book so that the readers may look them over ahead of time. The priest or deacon will proclaim the Gospel.
- PETITIONS: These prayers invite all to call upon God’s help for ourselves and for those who have died. Please choose from one of the three sets offered. You may invite a family member or friend to lead the petitions. If you do, please ask the Funeral Director to make a copy of the petitions from the provided binder, and give them to the reader in advance. If no reader is available, the priest or deacon will offer the petitions.
- MUSIC: In the provided section of the funeral planning book, you will find a list of hymns, both traditional and contemporary, which are both appropriate for use during the funeral liturgy and familiar to our Music Minister and the Resurrection Choir. Please ask the Funeral Director to notify parish music coordinator of your choices.
- OTHER: Besides the various readers mentioned above, please choose two or three family members or friends to present the bread and wine to be used in the Eucharist. Also, a friend or relative may offer a brief reflection about the deceased. PLEASE NOT THAT ONLY ONE PERSON MAY SPEAK, AND THAT THE REMARKS MUST BE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES.
The Funeral Liturgy Planning book is meant to offer assistance, not to be a burden.We realize that families differ in their desire to become involved in funeral liturgy preparation.You are encouraged to do so to whatever extent you are comfortable.The priest or other parish minister who attends the wake will be most willing to review your choices with you, and answer any questions you may have.Please feel free to call The Parish of Saint John Neumann beforehand if questions arise. Again, please be assured that your departed loved one is remembered in prayer by our Catholic community of faith.
The Priests, Deacons, and Staff of the Parish of Saint John Neumann
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Funeral Liturgy Planning
St. John Neumann Parish provides a comprehensive book for funeral planning. Please contact the parish rectory office for more information, 708-708-0622.