Funeral Arrangements
At the death of a Christian, whose life of faith was begun in the waters of baptism and strengthened at the Eucharistic table, the Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased because of its confident belief that death is not the end nor does it break the bonds forged in life. The Church also ministers to the sorrowing and consoles them in the funeral rites with the comforting word of God and the sacrament of Eucharist.
(Order of Christian Funerals #4)
A funeral is a time of sadness and mourning. But for Christians it is also a time to rejoice, for the Lord Jesus has won a great victory over death and made it possible for us to pass through to new and eternal life. This is our unwavering hope.
In a Catholic funeral we pray that our deceased brother or sister be admitted into Paradise. We also derive strength from family and friends and lend our support to others in what can be a very difficult time.
If you are making arrangements for the funeral of a relative or friend, your funeral director and our parish office staff can help you choose the appropriate elements to make it a meaningful celebration of trust and hope in Jesus Christ.
Preparing for Death
As followers of Jesus Christ, we often recall his teaching that our true homeland is in heaven and we are only pilgrims in this world. So we constantly prepare for our future life in heaven by the way we live as Christians now. At the onset of illness, the priest is called and the Anointing of the Sick is celebrated to receive any health God may wish to restore of mind, heart or body. When death threatens, one may receive sacramental Confession and holy communion, called “Viaticum”, which is our food for the journey into everlasting life.
Praying for the Dead
The Church has always encouraged prayer for its deceased members. This practice can be traced back to Old Testament times when the Maccabbean brothers prayed for their fallen colleagues with a view to the resurrection of the body. Ever since the second century our greatest prayer, the Mass, has been offered for the repose of the souls of the dead.
Praying for our deceased brothers and sisters reflects our Christian conviction that death is not the end of our existence; it is a point of change, and prayer to our merciful God on behalf of the dead will benefit both us and them. Our relationships with our friends and relatives do not dissolve with death. We honor them by giving their bodies a dignified Christian burial and we assist them in their journey to heaven by our prayers. Once they enter into the presence of God, they pray for us in return with great power.
Use of the Capilla de San Jose
Our Capilla de San Jose serves as venue for a wake. The official Death Certificate must be presented to the parish Office. Floral arrangement may be arranged as well through private florists or with our office. Fully air-conditioned, the chapel can accommodate 30—40 people. Request for Masses may be arranged with our parish secretary early on. Request a church choir as needed.
Since the Capilla is reserved for use of the family and visitors, care should be taken that the venue and the circumstance be respected by avoiding any form of gambling and serving of intoxicating drinks. Loud music must be avoided. We likewise discourage the use of plastic utensils and cups during the wake period. Non-Catholic services may be done upon arrangement with the parish priest. Arrangements may be coursed through our Parish Office at (02) 88213789.
Elements of the Funeral
The Catholic funeral has a number of elements which enable the Christian community to draw strength from one another and from God.
When one of its members dies, the Church is prepared to offer prayers after the death, at a gathering in the presence of the body, a vigil or wake, the procession to the church, the funeral Mass or Liturgy of the Word, and the committal at the cemetery or the crematorium.
The Funeral Mass
The Eucharist is of central importance in our spiritual lives, it is also of central importance in our celebration of Christian death. At the Last Supper, on the night before he died for us, our Savior transformed bread and wine into his own body and blood which he offered to his Father as a sacrifice acceptable to him. This is the Eucharistic sacrifice he asks us to celebrate as a continuing memorial of his death and resurrection. It is a pledge of future glory which sustains us all through life and is especially significant as we face the death of someone dear to us.
Scheduling and Participation
The date and time of the funeral Mass and wake service are to be scheduled by the family in consultation with the parish office and the funeral home. Please note, there may be other previously scheduled activities at the Church that need to be taken into consideration. Funerals cannot be held on Holy Days or during the Sacred Triduum. Active involvement by everyone increases the power of our prayer, drawing us closer to God and each other.
Christian Burial
After the Lord Jesus surrendered his Spirit into the hands of his Father, his disciples carefully prepared his body according to the Jewish ritual and placed it in a new tomb. By the three days he spent there, he made holy the graves of all those who believe in him and by his rising again we are restored to eternal life. As his followers, we too place the dead bodies or cremated remains of our brothers and sisters in the earth with the expectation that God will raise them to life again with the glorified Christ.
Our Christian burial places are blessed for the purpose of holding the body or cremated remains until the resurrection on the last day. Therefore, such a consecrated tomb is the most fitting place of rest we can give our beloved relatives and friends.
Cremation
In recent years, the Catholic Church has lifted the prohibition against the practice of cremation and has revised the rites for services with cremated remains. While the Church favors cremation after the funeral liturgy, it realizes that financial constraints or other circumstances may result in the desire for cremation before the funeral service. The cremated remains can be brought into the church for the Funeral Mass. Typically, a priest will accompany the cremated remains to the cemetery or the columbarium for committal after the funeral. The church discourages the practice of dividing or scattering remains. It is possible to have a picture of the deceased placed in the entrance of the church or near the cremains.
Inurnment
Should the family arrange for cremation, the cremains may be interred in our Columbarium as scheduled with the office. The Holy Mass with the urn present may be arranged. A Prayer Service may precede the inurnment rites. Units are available for sale.
Visiting Priests
Visiting priests are welcome to con-celebrate and take part in the Mass. This must be communicated to the parish priest and the parish office. All visiting priests must have current credentials from their Arch/Diocese or religious community.