Building up the Body of Christ with welcoming arms, loving hearts and joyful worship.
-
-
No matter how or when death comes … whether expected after a long illness or as a thief in the night, death is always a shock. It is unsettling. It is never as we imagined it. The rituals surrounding death as outlined in the Order of Christian Funerals, help us to journey through the time immediately following a death. Through gestures, scripture, prayers, and songs we help our loved one who has died to journey on to the next stage of life. The rites also seek to console the bereaved with assurances of hope in the promise of God that "life has changed, not ended." As you journey through these days of preparing for your loved one’s Funeral and Burial, please be assured of the prayers and sympathy of our parish community.
SCHEDULING A SERVICE AT SAINT HUBERT
Please contact your Funeral Director. The Funeral Director will help to coordinate the scheduling of services at the Church, Funeral Home, and the Cemetery. A meeting will be scheduled with one of our Bereavement Ministers who will assist you in planning the Funeral Liturgy. Prior to the meeting, please review the “PRIOR TO MEETING” section below.
VIGIL FOR THE DECEASED (Wake)
On the evening of the wake, the parish gathers with you for the first part of the funeral liturgy, the vigil prayer. Typically, one of our Deacons usually come in the early evening to lead the service. The service is a simple sequence of opening prayers, Scripture readings, brief homily, eulogies for the deceased, and final prayers and blessings.
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL (Funeral Mass)
Most of the time, the funeral rites will include a Catholic Mass, in which we affirm the presence and gift of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, a sign of our unity of faith, and a promise of the heavenly banquet we hope to enjoy with Him forever. The body may or may not be present for the Mass. If present, the ceremony begins at the entrance to the church with ceremonies that recall our Baptism because the deceased is entering a “new life” of faith just as he or she did at Baptism. When the casket is blessed with Holy Water, it is then covered with the Pall (a large white cloth covering that is symbolic of our Baptism). After processing down the aisle, the pall bearers and family take their place in the pews and the Funeral Mass continues. If there are cremains instead of a casket, the cremains will be blessed with Holy Water and carried by a family member(s). There is no Pall for the cremains.
RITE OF COMMITTAL (Cemetery Service)
The third and final part of the funeral liturgy occurs at the cemetery. A Deacon or the Pastor from the parish leads a brief prayer to help those who are mourning leave their loved one in the hands of God.
A WORD ABOUT CREMATION
Since 1963, the Catholic Church has allowed cremation. The Church teaches that the cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same respect given to the corporeal remains of a human body. Permission has been granted by the Catholic Church for the celebration of a Funeral Mass with the cremated remains of the body present in church. The Church prefers that the cremated remains of the deceased be buried rather than scattered or kept in the home of a relative or friend of the deceased. The Catholic Cemeteries have grave space or niches for cremated remains of the body. This allows for family visitation, prayer and remembrance in a sacred and dignified place. The Funeral Director can assist you in making the arrangements.
-
-
PRIOR TO MEETING WITH THE BEREAVEMENT MINISTER
-
- Please look at the suggested readings that are on the website and choose a reading from the Old Testament, a reading from the New Testament. If you are unsure which readings you want, the Bereavement Minister can assist you in choosing something appropriate.
- Please look at the Funeral Music Selections and choose 4 songs you would like played and sung at the Mass. The Music Director will decide where each music selection will be played during the Mass.
- If you have a specific request not listed on any of the resource pages, for example, a Bible passage not listed, please provide your request with full reference of book, chapter, and verses, or the full information of the musical request to the meeting. We may not be able to satisfy all requests but will do our best to accommodate you.
- Please discuss and provide the names of anyone from your family, or friends, that would like to participate in proclaiming either of the Old or New Testament readings and/or the General Intersessions.
- Please discuss and provide the names of anyone from your family, or friends, who would like to bring up the gifts at the Offertory.
- Please write down some thoughts about the deceased that you would like included in the homily. These can include how long someone was married, how many children & grandchildren they had, their occupation, hobbies and any other pertinent facts about their life (i.e., they loved to travel, loved to dance, etc.)
-
Musical Selections
Music is an important part of the funeral rites. It can console and uplift mourners even as it expresses our faith and love. The music used in the Funeral Mass is to be religious in nature and in accord with our faith in eternal life, which the Mass celebrates. Other hymns may be requested, but their acceptance will be based on appropriateness to the church's liturgy and the cantor and pianist's knowledge of them. Our Parish Music Director, or a cantor and accompanist will be present to lead the congregation in song. The bereavement minister will talk over your selections with you and communicate them to the music director.
Fees
When you meet with the Bereavement Minister, they will discuss the associated fees.
Luncheon
Our Parish has a Funeral Luncheon Ministry, and they offer luncheons in the lower level of St. Hubert Church after the Mass. Please mention to your Bereavement Minister when you meet that you are interested in having a luncheon and they will help you.
Luncheon Options
Lite Funeral Menu
Funeral Luncheon Menu
-