Funerals
The Christian funeral is a liturgical celebration of the Church. The ministry of the Church in this instance aims at expressing efficacious communion with the deceased, at the participation in that communion of the community gathered for the funeral, and at the proclamation of eternal life to the community.
Paragraphs 1680 and 1684, Catechism of the Catholic Church
Parish Funeral Policies
Usually, the family contacts a mortuary first. If a family calls the parish first, we will ask them to call a mortuary of their choice. The parish does not recommend any mortuary, or cemetery. (Many Catholics prefer to be buried in a Catholic cemetery, but this is not mandatory.)
Funeral rites should never be scheduled without consulting the parish first. Every effort will be made to accommodate the family’s needs. Please call the office at (520) 622-0168 for scheduling a mass. Funerals are not permitted on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, or Thursday through Saturday of Holy Week. (This is the custom of the whole Church, and there are no exceptions.)
The Order of Christian Funerals [Catholic Funeral] is divided into three (3) parts:
- Vigil for the Deceased [wake]. This includes visitation and a Service of the Word (not the Rosary). The rosary may be included in the service, or it may be said privately. The visitation and service are recommended but not mandatory.
- Mass of Christian Burial. This Mass is strongly recommended for all Catholics and omitted only for serious reasons. The Mass can be celebrated with the body or cremated remains present, or as a Memorial Mass without the body or cremated remains. All Masses must be celebrated in the Church.
- Rite of Committal (rites at the cemetery). These are rites at the cemetery if the body or cremated remains are buried in a plot or mausoleum. For good reason, this rite can be omitted. Ordinarily, military rites should precede the Rite of Committal.
The presider of Mass of Christian Burials at St. Margaret Roman Catholic Parish is Fr. Richard Awange.
Non-Catholic clergy may have limited participation at the rites, but always at the discretion of the pastor or presider.