How to Plan a Catholic Funeral

When someone dies, those responsible for funeral arrangements usually have three or four days to make dozens of decisions. Below is a practical, Catholic-specific checklist: what to do first, what can wait, and what the Church expects.

The first 24 hours

• Call the deceased's parish priest or the parish of the family. Most parishes have a designated person for funerals.
• Notify the funeral home. They coordinate with the parish and the cemetery.
• If the person died without the Last Rites (the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick), ask a priest about prayers for the deceased now.

The three Catholic funeral rites

The Order of Christian Funerals has three distinct liturgies. You don't have to do all three. Many families do only the Funeral Mass.

• Vigil for the Deceased — often called a "wake" or "rosary service," held the evening before the funeral. Scripture reading, prayers, and time for eulogies by family and friends. Eulogies are generally not permitted at the Funeral Mass itself.
• Funeral Mass — the main liturgy, held at the parish church. The body or cremated remains are present.
• Rite of Committal — at the graveside or mausoleum, immediately after the Funeral Mass. Typically 10-15 minutes.

Decisions you'll be asked to make

• Scripture readings — four slots, but see our guide to choosing funeral readings.
• Music — entrance, offertory, communion, recessional, and ideally a Psalm setting. Parish music directors can suggest options.
• Readers — two or three family members or close friends. The priest proclaims the Gospel.
• Pallbearers — usually six, though some families use "honorary" pallbearers as well.
• Who speaks at the vigil — eulogies, memories, and readings from any source are welcome here, not at the Mass.

Cremation

The Church permits cremation. The preferred order is Mass with the body present, then cremation, then burial of the cremated remains in a sacred place. The Church does not permit scattering, dividing, or keeping cremated remains at home. If those were the deceased's stated wishes, speak with your priest.

Printing a program

A funeral program helps those less familiar with Catholic liturgy follow along and gives mourners a memento to take home. You can create a print-ready funeral program. It has fields for memorial notes, a photo slot, and the full text of the chosen readings.

After the funeral

Catholic practice includes ongoing prayer for the dead. Many families schedule Masses for the deceased on the 30-day anniversary, the one-year anniversary, and subsequent years. Your parish office will arrange this; the suggested offering is usually modest.