FUNERALS IN THE PARISH
Bookings for funerals are made by the funeral directors who liaise with
the Parish and the cemetery or crematorium.
There are a number of options for a catholic funeral:
IN CHURCH
A funeral can take place in either Sacred Heart or St Cuthbert’s
churches.
Funeral Mass:
This is appropriate when the person who died was a practising catholic
and/or the family are and they want a mass. Please note that funeral
masses cannot be celebrated on Fridays in the parish.
Funeral Service:
A simpler service lasting about 30 minutes can be held in church. This is
a service of prayers and readings.
Reception of the body into church:
If the deceased was, or had been, an active member of the church it
might be appropriate for the deceased to be received into the church
the evening before the funeral when vigil prayers (and the Rosary) can
be said. The person who has died can then lay at rest in the church until
the funeral.
FUNERAL NOT HELD IN CHURCH
A short, simple service can be held at either the crematorium chapel or
at the graveside if requested. These are very simple, short services to
commend the departed to God and to commit the body to be cremated
or buried.
If the family wish to have an extended celebration of the persons life,
with several people delivering Eulogies and/or slide shows, this takes
place immediately after the service has been held as this is not part of
the Catholic Funeral service.
A short (about 5 minute) Eulogy can be delivered by a family member or
friend at any of the above funeral choices at the appropriate point in the
service.
Likewise someone can read the first bible reading during the
service/mass.
MUSIC
We can provide an organist at both churches subject to availability. At St
Cuthbert’s members of our choir are usually available to support the
singing. The current fee for the organist is £85 and a £65 donation to
the choir fund if they sing at a funeral. Your funeral director can arrange
a soloist to sing at Sacred Heart church if you wish.
Music during the service/mass has to be recognised as church music and
choices will be discussed with you, along with bible readings, prior to
the funeral. The music is taken from the Celebration hymnbook that we
use in the parish. Singing is an integral part of our worship and
everyone is encouraged to sing. We do not permit the use of
recorded music or words during a funeral mass or service.
Suitable secular music can be played going into the crematorium chapel
and on the way out but not during the service.
CREMATION
Cremation is permitted by the Catholic Church provided it is not being
done for reason contrary to belief in resurrection.
The cremated remains (ashes) must remain complete and be buried or
entombed in a proper cemetery. There is no additional parish charge for
this. Arrangements will be discussed with the family at the planning
meeting prior to the funeral. Remains should never be divided up or
retained but should be treated with the same respect as a body.
The Church says:
The cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same
respect given to the human body from which they come. This includes
the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the manner in which
they are carried, and the care and attention to appropriate placement
and transport, and the final disposition. The (whole) cremated remains
should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or
columbarium. The practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea,
from the air, or on the ground, or keeping cremated remains at the
home of a relative or friend of the deceased are not the reverent
disposition that the Church requires. (no. 417)
LIVE STREAMING OR VIDEOING
The livestreaming of funerals has become more popular with travel
issues and family and friends being a long way away. If you wish to
arrange for live streaming or videoing, please discuss this when we meet
to arrange music and readings for the service. Permission is subject to
the agreement of the priest/minister taking the service and the
musicians. Please note that many of the hymns used and the bible
readings are subject to copyright restrictions. We do not accept any
responsibility for any copyright breaches arising from
streaming/videoing.
FUNERAL TEAM
Our team consists of the priest, Fr Giorgio, Our Deacons, (Deacon Anil
and Deacon Mick) and two authorised extraordinary lay ministers (Janet
and Harold) who can take services if none of the clergy are available.
Funeral masses are always celebrated by Fr Giorgio. Other funeral
services and planning meetings will be done by any member of the
team, subject to availability and at the discretion of the Parish Priest.
Please note that a Funeral Mass is only possible from Mondays to
Thursdays. Not on Fridays.