In our Catholic faith, we believe that death is not the end; life is only changed, not ended. Because of the infinite love of God for each one of us, he sent his Son, Jesus Christ to open the doors of Heaven for us through his death and resurrection. Though the death of a loved one is a painful and sorrowful time, we take comfort in the knowledge that God is near and that he has prepared a place for each one of us in his eternal Kingdom.
The Funeral service is an opportunity to find comfort in our hope in the Resurrection, to commend our loved ones to the hands of God, and to honor and celebrate their lives. If the time comes for you to say goodbye to a loved one, we are here to accompany you through this difficult time and to help you plan a beautiful funeral Mass or service that will serve as a fitting remembrance of their life and a reminder of our hope in the Resurrection.
A Catholic Funeral has three parts:
First, the Vigil Service sometimes called the Wake Service, which takes place at the funeral home.
Second, the Funeral Mass, which takes place at the church.
And third, the Committal Service, which takes place at the graveside.
Arrangements for a funeral are usually made through a local funeral director who contacts the parish to arrange dates and times for the Catholic funeral rites.