Funeral Planning

The Catholic Funeral Rites in the Order of Christian Funerals are celebrations that enable the Christian community to mourn as well as to hope by focusing on the mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ.

The Catholic funeral has a number of elements which enable the Christian community to draw strength from one another and from God.

When one of its members dies, the Church is prepared to offer prayers after the death, at a gathering in the presence of the body, a vigil or wake, the procession to the church, the funeral Mass or Liturgy of the Word, and the committal at the cemetery.

The Eucharist is of central importance in our spiritual lives, it is also of central importance in our celebration of Christian death. At the last supper, on the night before He died for us, our Saviour transformed bread and wine into His own body and blood which He offered to His Father as a sacrifice acceptable to Him. This is the Eucharistic sacrifice He asked us to celebrate as a continuing memorial of His death and resurrection. It is a pledge of future glory which sustains us all through life and is especially significant as we face the death of someone dear to us.

1. Below you will find the Family Planning Sheet for a Funeral Mass. This is a fillable form that you can download and save to your computer, complete, save and print/send. Or, you may simply download and print the form and fill the information in by hand.
   • Family Planning Sheet for a Funeral Mass (complete as much of the form as you are able using our Bereavement Booklet below)
2. Mass of Christian Burial Resource for Planning booklet ►
3. Funerals at Good Shepherd Information ►