Rite of Christian Burial
“In the face of death, the Church confidently proclaims
that God has created each person for eternal life
and that Jesus, the Son of God, by His death and resurrection, has broken the chains of sin and death
that bound humanity.”
(Vatican Council II, Constitution on the Liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium, art. 5)
Death is not the end, but the loss of a loved one can be challenging to process. Our Funeral Ministry team meets with the family to listen, guide and support the grieving family members through the planning process of the church service.
While the funeral rite is not a sacrament, it plays an important role in God’s plan. Through private prayer and public funeral rites, we strengthen our faith and hope, comfort those who mourn, and bury the bodily remains of the deceased with care befitting what was the temple of the Holy Spirit. We offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of life which has now been returned to God, the author of life. The death of a member of the community is an event that should lead beyond the perspectives of ‘this world’ and should draw the faithful into the true perspective of faith in the Risen Christ.
The funeral rites offer three distinct but cohesive rituals to help those going through the various stages of grief following the death of a loved one.
- Vigil and Related Rites and Prayers: At the vigil the Christian community keeps watch with the family, in prayer to the God of Mercy and finds strength in Christ’s presence. The family and community turn to God’s Word. The assembly calls upon the Father of Mercy to receive the deceased into the kingdom.
- Funeral Liturgy: The community gathers with the family and friends of the deceased to give praise and thanks to God for Christ’s victory over sin and death and to commend the deceased to God’s tender mercy and compassion. The rite can be celebrated within Mass, or in a simpler manner as a Liturgy of the Word.
- Rite of Committal: The conclusion of the funeral rite is the final act of the community of faith in caring for the body of its deceased member. The rite is to be celebrated at the place of interment.
Once the parish office has been notified of a death by the funeral home, families can expect to hear from a member of our Funeral Ministry team who will assist the family of the deceased in planning the Funeral Liturgy, including music choices.
When a funeral home is not involved, please contact the parish office directly at
413-323-6272 x1.
Pre-Plan Your Funeral Liturgy
Sometimes when a loved one has passed, the last wishes of the deceased can be unclear for those who are left behind. And in the grief of one's loss, the decisions of what readings or songs should be chosen can seem overwhelming. With this in mind, our Funeral Ministry volunteers are available to meet with you and/or your loved one to pre-plan the funeral liturgy.
Please submit the form below and one of our Funeral Ministry volunteers will be in touch with you to set up a meeting.