In prayer, let us commend the souls of our departed loved ones and all the faithful departed to the loving mercy of God:
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace. Amen.
The days and weeks that follow the death of a person we love, whether it be a member of our family or a close friend or colleague, can be one of the most emotionally difficult and traumatic times in our lives. When the responsibility of organising the funeral of that person is added to this, our anxieties can be substantially increased.
In the Catholic Church there are wonderful time-honoured rites which help us to prepare for and celebrate the funerals of our deceased loved ones. These rites give expression to the meaning and dignity of our lives as Baptised Christians, children of God and members of the Catholic family of faith.
In planning a funeral for a Catholic who has died, a relative or friend will be able to take advantage of these treasured and traditional sacred funeral rites. In choosing a Catholic funeral however, it is important to know that the integrity of the rites of the Church must be respected and that it will not be possible for the priest or deacon to change these rites to mirror the practices that are sometimes found in other funeral services.
The Holy Family 