Scheduling
The first step is to contact the mortuary of your choice to handle the necessary arrangements. The mortuary will contact the church office staff and schedule a time for the Mass or Service. As a general rule, the funeral mass for a Catholic is celebrated in his or her own parish church. Once the date and time have been determined, the Funeral Minister will contact you and schedule an appointment to meet. Prior to the meeting, a Funeral Planning Book may be picked up at the church office to assist you with some of the details. At the meeting, the Funeral Minister will help you select the readings and music, as well as answer any questions you may have about the funeral service.

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General Information
The Order of Christian Funerals is a three-part ritual, with Vigil (viewing), Funeral Mass and Rite of Committal (internment). It is strongly encouraged that the Funeral Rites be conducted in the presence of the body of the deceased. This practice is most in accord with the sacred principles and rituals of the Christian Faith. However, the Mass of Christian Burial may also be celebrated with the cremains present in the church. Care should be taken that the cremated remains of the deceased are accorded proper respect through interment in blessed cemetery ground, or in a mausoleum. Any scattering of the cremains is not permitted, because of the reverence due the bodies and remains of the bodies of those who have been baptized and have been temples of the Holy Spirit.

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The Vigil for the Deceased
The Vigil is usually celebrated at the mortuary. The Funeral Minister will arrange for a deacon to be present and assist with a rosary or scripture service. The mortuary will be able to assist you with any special musical selections or photographic DVD memorials that you wish to play at the Vigil.

The vigil service is the most appropriate time for a eulogy or reflection, sharing of stories, etc., as opposed to during the Funeral Mass. The deacon will facilitate this at the family's request.

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Words of Remembrance
The guidelines for a Catholic Funeral Mass provide for the opportunity for “a member or friend of the family to speak in remembrance of the deceased before the final commendation begins”. These words are not to constitute a eulogy as such but rather they are to express appreciation for the life of the deceased or take the form of a prayer or other inspirational text such as a poem.

We invite one person only to speak as a representative of the family. Generally these words should be no longer than
three to five minutes. Because of the intensity of emotions at the time of a Funeral the “words of remembrance” should be in written form. We ask that the basic text of these “words of remembrance” be given to the Funeral Coordinator or Priest prior to the Funeral so that he or she can make suitable suggestions to help the “words of remembrance” convey in a dignified way the consolation of God’s love, grace and mercy and gratitude for the particular gifts of God given to the deceased.

Those who wish to give a eulogy or to share a story about the deceased more fittingly do so during the Vigil (Viewing/Wake) or even following the committal at the cemetery. A biography of the deceased could be included in the printed worship aid prepared for the Funeral.

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Funeral Mass
The Funeral Mass is traditionally celebrated in the morning. The parish church is the proper place for the Mass of Christian Burial. For the Funeral Mass, Christian symbols (cross, bible, scapular, etc.) may be placed on the casket at the beginning of the Funeral Mass. All secular items, like flags or medals of Honor are important, but not part of the Funeral Mass. These secular and important symbols are removed at the church door and a pall placed over the casket. This symbolizes our unity in Christ through our baptism. Christian symbols are only used within a church. Flowers may be placed in the church. Photos and other items are normally displayed in the baptismal fount area with the Book of Remembrance.
A small table can be placed in the front of the altar for the cremains. Some families choose to have a picture and or flowers on the table with the urn.

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Committal
At the cemetery, the Rite of Committal is celebrated, ending the three-part liturgy. A deacon will accompany you to the cemetery for the Committal Service.

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Order of the Mass
Below is the outline of the Order for Christian
Funerals so that you may plan your liturgy and
choose the scripture readings and songs.

Introductory Rites
(*Done only when the body is present for the Funeral Mass)
-Greeting
-Sprinkling with Holy Water
-Placing of the Pall ( done by the family members or friends)*
-Placing of Christian symbols ( done by family members or friends)*
-Opening Song ( choose from the song list)
-Opening Prayer

Liturgy of the Word
-First Reading ( you may choose from Old Testament or New Testament if you only have one reading. During the Easter Season, you may have two New Testament readings.)

- Psalm ( sung by the Music Minister - you may choose from the psalm list)

- Second Reading ( optional to have a 2nd reading; from the New Testament - you may choose from the Scripture list)

-Gospel (you may choose from the Scripture list, but will be read by the priest or deacon)

-Homily

-Intercessions

Liturgy of the Eucharist
-Presentation Song ( choose from the song list)
-Preparation of the Gifts (choose family members
or friends to bring up the gifts)

-Continuation of the Mass as usual

-Communion Song ( choose from the list provided)

As mentioned earlier, the appropriate place for family and friends sharing, or the offering of a eulogy or reflection, is at the Vigil. If it is determined that a speaker is to be included at the Funeral Mass this will take place following Communion. One person may speak who will limit the comments to three to four minutes. It is requested that the person write out their comments and that it be appropriate for church.

Final Commendation
-Invitation to Prayer
-Silence
-Song of Farewell
- Prayer of Commendation

Song ( choose a song from the list)

Procession to the Place of Committal (to the cemetery

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Scripture Selections
You may have one or two members of your family or friends do the readings. The readers must be Catholic and it is suggested that they be at least 13 years of age. The priest or deacon will read the Gospel. Below is a list a suggested readings:

Readings for Funerals (Adults):

Old Testament Readings
Maccabees 12: 43-46
Job 19: 1, 23-27a
Wisdom 3: 1-9 OR 3: 1-6, 9
Wisdom 4:7-15
Isaiah 25: 6a, 7-9
Lamentations 3:17-26
Daniel 12:1-3

First Readings During the Easter Season
Acts 10: 34-43 OR 10: 34-36, 42-43
Revelation 14: 13
Revelation 20:11-21:1
Revelation 21: 1-5a, 6b-7

Spoken Psalms:
Psalm 42: 2, 3, 5cdef; 43: 3, 4, 5
Psalm 116: 5, 6, 10-11, 15-16ac
Psalm 130: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6ab, 6c-7, 8
Psalm 143: 1-2, 5-6, 7ab and 8ab, 10
(See Music Portion for additional Psalms)

New Testament Readings
Romans 5: 5-11
Romans 5: 17-21
Romans 6: 3-9 OR 6: 3-4, 8-9
Romans 8: 14-23
Romans 8: 31b-35, 37-39
Romans 14: 7-9, 10c-12
1 Corinthians 15: 20-28 OR 15: 20-23
1 Corinthians 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

Gospel Readings
Matthew 5:1-12a
Matthew 11: 25-30
Matthew 25: 1-13
Matthew 25: 31-46
Mark 15: 33-39; 16: 1-6 OR 15: 33-39
Luke 7: 11-17
Luke 12: 35-40
Luke 23: 33, 39-43
Luke 23: 44-46, 50, 52-53; 24: 1-6a OR 23: 44-46, 50, 52-53
Luke 24: 13-35 OR 24: 13-16, 28-35
John 5: 24-29
John 6: 37-40
John 6: 51-59
John 11: 17-27 OR 11: 21-27
John 11: 32-45
John 12: 23-28 OR 12: 23-26
John 14: 1-6
John 17: 24-26
John 19: 17-18, 25-39

Readings for Children (Baptized):

Old Testament Readings
Isaiah 25: 6a, 7-9
Lamentations 3: 22-26

First Readings for the Easter Season
Revelation 7: 9-10, 15-17
Revelation 21: 1a, 3-5a

Psalms (Spoken or Sung)
Psalm 23: 1-3, 4, 5, 6
Psalm 25: 4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 20-21
Psalm 42: 2, 3, 5cdef; 43: 3, 4, 5
Psalm 148: 1-2, 11-13a, 13c-14 (Spoken only)

New Testament Readings
Romans 6: 3-4, 8-9
Romans 14: 7-9
1 Corinthians 15: 20-23
Ephesians 1: 3-5
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-14, 18

Gospel Readings
Matthew 11: 25-30
Mark 10: 13-16
John 6: 37-40 OR 6: 37-39
John 6: 51-59
John 11: 32-38, 40
John 19: 25-30

Readings for Children (Unbaptized):

Old Testament Readings
Isaiah 25: 6a, 7-8
Lamentations 3: 22-26

Psalm (Spoken or Sung)
Psalm 25: 4-5ab, 6 and 7b, 17 and 20

Gospel Readings
Matthew 11: 25-30
Mark 15: 33-46
John 19: 25-30

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Music Selections
Here at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we encourage full participation from our community. The Funeral Minister will create a Worship Aid for the funeral to assist with this process. The music selections that you choose will be listed in the Worship Aid. There are several opportunities to incorporate music into the funeral service. Please select a Gathering Song, Psalm Response, and Preparation of the Gifts Song, Communion Song, and Closing Song. Below is a list of suggested songs, but you may choose other selections as well.

click here to download list of approved songs

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Funeral Donations and Fees
The Diocese of Phoenix has set forth certain suggested honorariums and fees for services. Normally, the mortuary will incorporate these into their contract. If you have any questions about as to whether or not these fees have been included, please contact the mortuary or ask the Funeral Minister for clarification.

Church $100.00 (suggested minimum donation)
Priest $100.00 (suggested minimum donation)
Deacon $75.00 (suggested minimum donation)
Musician $100.00
3 Servers $5.00 per server

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Memorial Donations
Families often request donations to specific
funds in memory of their deceased.

At Mount Carmel we suggest the following:

- Msgr. McCready Scholarship Fund
Monies donated to the Msgr. McCready scholarship
fund are used to assist families in financial need to
cover costs of tuition at Our Lady of Mount Carmel school.

- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Renovation
Donations are accepted for specific memorials.
Items such as chalices,
liturgical vestments, new church appointments, statues and other liturgical items.
Donations can also be directed specifically towards building funds.

- St. Vincent De Paul Society of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Donations made to St. Vincent De Paul Society enable the
society to assist families in need with food, rental assistance
and other needs.

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