Frequently Asked Questions

Who can be buried from the Church?

Any baptized Catholic can be buried from the Church, those who have been most faithful in the practice and those who have been less faithful or separated from the Church, through illness, distance or special circumstances. Non-Catholic members of a parishioner's family may be buried from the Church unless it was contrary to their wishes and will during their life. Children are honored with Christian burial if the parents intended for the child to be baptized but the child died prior to baptism.

Can those who have died as a result of suicide be buried from the Church?

Yes, previous laws forbidding such have been changed. There are prayers included in the Order of Christian Funerals (OCF) for this circumstance.

May someone who has not been able to attend Church for a few years because of living in a nursing home still be buried from a parish church?

Yes. Absence from their parish due to such circumstances does not separate them from the community of the Church and a Funeral Liturgy.

Why does the Church not sacramentally anoint bodies after death?

One purpose of the Sacrament of the Sick and its anointing of the living person is to instill hope and healing before death. After death, when healing can no longer take place, the Church has other prayers but does not anoint the dead body.

The Anointing of the Sick can be received many times by a Catholic. The sick are to be anointed at the beginning of a serious illness as well as through the various stages of the illness as it progresses. The sacrament is not reserved to be celebrated only within the last hours of one's life. Please do not wait to celebrate this sacrament. Unfortunately, due to the shortage of priests, Father may not be available at a moment's notice.

Are Catholics allowed to be cremated?

The Church still recommends, and prefers, the pious custom of burying the bodies of the Faithful, out of respect for the body that has given evidence of God's spirit enlivening our souls which are destined to be raised on the great Day of Resurrection. Nonetheless, the Church allows cremation as long as it is not an intentional denial of the Church's teaching regarding the Resurrection of the body. Note: The Church greatly prefers that the cremation take place after the funeral liturgy. However, when this is not possible, the

cremated remains are expected to be present for the Funeral Liturgy. We will not offer a funeral liturgy without the remains of the deceased. This may require a delay until the ashes are available.

What music is allowed?

"Music is integral to the Funeral rites. The texts of the songs chosen for a particular celebration should express the paschal mystery of the Lord's suffering, death, and triumph over death and should be related to the readings from Scripture." (OCF 30) Please see the list of approved hymns.

Can we have a eulogy?

A eulogy is not allowed during the Funeral Liturgy. Family or friends may be invited to share such a testimony at the Vigil or at the memorial luncheon or reception that often follows the funeral.

What do we do with the cremated remains after the funeral?

The cremated remains must always be treated with respect, the same respect we attribute to the body. After the funeral they are to be interred or entombed, preferably in a Catholic cemetery, mausoleum or columbarium. They should never be stored in a home, separated or scattered or disposed in any way other than a dignified interment or entombment.

Are Funeral Masses allowed in funeral homes?

Funeral Masses are not allowed in funeral homes. A simple scripture service in the funeral home is possible when no church liturgy is chosen.

Are there some days were funerals are not allowed by the Church?

A Funeral Mass can be celebrated any day except on Holy Days of Obligation, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter and the Sundays of the Advent, Lent and Easter seasons. Fr. Altermatt’s normal day off is Monday, therefore, the two days a week that there will not be funerals at Sacred Heart or St. Cornelius are Sunday and Monday.

What are the normal times when funerals are celebrated at Sacred Heart and St. Cornelius Catholic Churches?

The normal funeral Mass time for our parishes is 11:00 am with a half hour visitation before the Mass; exceptions may be made in special circumstances. There is no visitation for cremated remains. The doors of the church will be opened a half hour before the visitation or, if no visitation, a half hour before the Mass. Following the Archbishop’s pastoral letter, we will also offer evening funeral Masses as an alternative.

Readings for Funeral Liturgy

The following are lists of Scriptures provided for use at a Catholic Funeral. Choose a First Reading and a Second Reading.

Other Scripture passages cannot be read in place of these readings.

First Reading

2 Maccabees 12:43-46

Job 19: 1, 23-27a "

Wisdom 3:1-6,9 (Short Vers.)

Wisdom 3:1-9 (Long Vers.)

Wisdom 4:7-15

Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9

Lamentations 3:17-26

Daniel 12:1-3

First Reading (During Easter Season)

Acts of the Apostles 10:34-36, 42-43 (Short Vers.)

Acts of the Apostles 10:34-43 (Long Vers.)

Revelation 14:13

Revelation 20:11-21:1

Revelation 21:1-5a, 6b-7

Second Reading                                         

Romans 5:5-11                                             

Romans 5:17-21                                             

Romans 6:3-4, 8-9 (Short Vers.)               

Romans 6:3-9 (Long Vers.)                       

Romans 8:14-23                                           

Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39

Romans 14:7-9, 10c-12

1 Corinthians 15:20-28

1 Corinthians 15:51-57

2 Corinthians 4:14—5:1

2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-10

Philippians 3:20-21

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

2 Timothy 2:8-13

1 John 3:1-2

1 John 3:14-16

To view the entire text please click on the button below to the USCCB website.



Music for a Catholic Funeral

Below you will find appropriate music for use at a Catholic Funeral. Choose one Psalm and up to five songs (Opening Hymn, Preparation of the Gifts, Communion, Post Communion-optional, and Closing Hymn).

All hymn numbers are from We Pray in Song, GIA (our orange hymnal)

Psalms (select 1)

Psalm 23 – Shepherd Me, O God (#34)               

Psalm 25 – To You, O Lord (#35)                           

Psalm 27 – The Lord is My Light (#36)

Preparation of the Gifts/ Communion (select 2)

We Remember (#740)

Taste and See (#741)

I Receive the Living God (#745)

I Am the Bread of Life (#750)

One Bread, One Body (#756)

You Satisfy the Hungry Heart (#761)

Opening / Closing/ Post Communion-optional (select 2 or 3)

How Great Thou Art (#483)

I Have Loved You (#490)                                                   

Blest Are They (#494)                                                                     

What Wonderous Love is This (verse 1,3 #544)                                   

Amazing Grace (#545)                                           

Keep in Mind (#547)

Be Not Afraid (#574)           

On Eagle’s Wings (#578)

Here I Am Lord (#641)

Make Me a Channel of Your Peace (#663) 

Ave Maria (#709)