at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church
The Church celebrates life, both earthly and eternal. Our goal is to do our best to assist you and your loved ones celebrate the deceased person’s faith in Jesus Christ.
Having a Funeral for a person of the Catholic Faith:
The process involved in celebrating the life of a person of the Catholic faith usually involves two elements, a Mass and a Wake. It is important to keep in mind the purpose of the Mass and the Wake.
- The Wake is a time of prayer that focuses on praying for and grieving the deceased. It should include prayer and Scripture readings. This is also a good time for people to give eulogies and share memories of the deceased. Funeral homes can assist with audio-visual presentations and displays of pictures and mementos.
- A Funeral Mass is a celebration of the sacrament of the Eucharist for the deceased; it is worship, not a personal, private event. At the Mass the whole Church, those living on earth and in heaven, unite in prayer to celebrate and proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord of the living and the dead. Within the last few years more and more people have asked for a Mass but then wanted it transformed into a personalized social event. This is inappropriate and misguided. That is why eulogies are not allowed at a Funeral Mass at St. Luke but are welcome at the wake service. The Wake is focused on mourning the individual deceased; the Mass is focused on praying for the deceased and all the living and the dead.
GUIDELINES
- When you are responsible for making funeral arrangements for a Catholic, promptly notify the parish to set the date and time for funeral services. We shall collect the basic information from you for our Funeral Coordinator, who will contact you and, working with the funeral home, set the date and time of the wake service, funeral and graveside.
- Once we resume Funeral Masses at St. Luke they will generally be celebrated at 11:00am., Tuesdays through Saturdays. Funeral Masses are not allowed on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.
- Burial and cremation are each acceptable.
- Human remains, whether embalmed or cremated, must be buried or placed in a mausoleum or columbarium. Cremated remains may not be kept at home or scattered indiscriminately.
- The Funeral Service can be either a funeral with Mass in the church, or funeral without Mass in the funeral home chapel or at the graveside. Many families still like a traditional wake service in the funeral home chapel the evening before the funeral service, though some people prefer to have it 30 minutes before the Funeral Mass in the church.
- A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by a priest. A Funeral Service (which does not include Mass) and the Wake Service can be led by a deacon or lay person.
- The parish does not charge for Mass, Wake or Graveside Services. However, musicians are entitled to payment for their services.