Please call the office for scheduling & Questions

Updated info about funerals at St. Cecilia to come soon.

The office is open Mon-Fri from 9am-2pm.

(206)842-3594

Catholic Funerals

Please call the office for scheduling & Questions

The office is open Mon-Fri from 9am-2pm.

(206)842-3594

When a death occurs and you are ready to begin planning for a funeral:
1. Call the parish office and we will walk you through the process. We will confirm which dates/times the priest is available for the funeral liturgy.

2. Notify immediate family members who are not already present. Even before the funeral arrangements are confirmed, someone should call those most closely affected by the death. Follow up calls with details can be done later, either personally or through a trusted friend or relative.

3. Contact a funeral director to make arrangements for the body to be taken to the funeral home. Set up an appointment with the funeral home and let the representative know which date and time the priest is available for the Funeral Mass. If you need help finding a funeral home, please call the parish office and we will be happy to provide a recommendation.

What is a Catholic funeral Mass?
The funeral Mass is the normal way the Catholic Church commemorates a person’s death. At the funeral Mass, family, friends, and parishioners gather to pray for the deceased and for the deceased person’s family and friends using scripture readings, prayers, and special rites. Because the Eucharist is the memorial of Christ’s own saving death and resurrection, it is the most appropriate way to celebrate at the time of death.

Are Catholic funerals always celebrated at Mass?
No. In some instances it can be quite appropriate to celebrate a funeral outside the Mass. This is commonly done, for example, when all or most of the family members of the deceased are not Catholic. Another example would be the funeral of a non-Catholic person who was married to a Catholic and had no other church affiliation. In both cases, a Liturgy of the Word without the celebration of the Eucharist is appropriate.

Who presides at funeral celebrations?
Normally, the pastor presides at the funeral Mass. There are exceptions, however; for instance, if the family of the deceased has a priest who is a relative or a very close friend, he might be asked to preside. Also, a deacon may preside at a funeral outside of the Mass.

Does the casket need to be present at the funeral?
If at all possible, the remains of the deceased should be present during the funeral Mass in order for the Church’s full rites for the dead to be celebrated.

Does the Church permit cremation?
The Church does permit cremation although it does not accord it the same value as burial of the body. And even in the case when cremation is going to take place, the Church has a strong and clear preference for bringing the body of the deceased to the Church for the funeral and delaying the cremation until afterwards. The reason for this is set forth in the Church’s Order for Christian Funerals: “The Christian faithful are unequivocally confronted by the mystery of life and death when they are faced with the presence of the body of one who has died… The body was once washed in the waters of baptism, anointed with the oil of salvation, and fed with the Bread of life. The presence of the body brings forcefully to mind the Church’s conviction that the human body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, destined for future glory at the resurrection of the dead.”

What is a “Memorial Mass”?
A “memorial Mass” is a funeral celebrated in those exceptional cases when it is not possible for the remains of the deceased, whether in a casket or an urn, to be present.

When may funerals take place?
Most often, funerals take place on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, usually in mid-morning. They may also be celebrated on a Saturday morning if no wedding is scheduled. Funeral Masses may not be celebrated on Sunday.

How are funerals scheduled?
Funerals are scheduled in consultation with the Pastor or another staff member. As far as possible, the needs and wishes of the family are given first consideration, although the availability of the pastor must also be taken into account.

Does the family of the deceased participate in the funeral?
Members of the family are encouraged to participate actively in the funeral. There are a number of ways for them to be involved. Some family members usually meet with the pastors to plan the funeral. Then, prior to the service, family members are present in the church to welcome friends to the celebration. They can also choose the pallbearers or even serve as pallbearers. They almost always place the funeral pall (a reminder of the white garment received at baptism) over the casket at the beginning of the liturgy. Family members can also proclaim the readings from the scriptures and present the gifts of bread and wine for the celebration of the Eucharist. In the case of a funeral when the cremated remains are present, family members usually carry the ossuary in the procession.

Are funerals celebrated for people who are not parishioners?
The long custom of the Catholic Church is for the deceased to be buried from his or her own parish church.

Are there policies regarding music for the funeral?
The funeral mass calls us to direct our attention to the promise of eternal life as Jesus proclaimed it. Therefore the music for Catholic funerals proclaims the Resurrection of our Lord and we use appropriate music from a Catholic hymnal. Other “favorite” songs or pop-tunes in general do not emphasize Jesus’ teaching about life after death. Therefore they are more appropriate for your reception. The music for the funeral is provided by the parish musicians. Once the funeral has been scheduled, the Music Director will contact a designated member of the family to choose appropriate musical selections. For more information regarding music for funerals, please call.

Are eulogies ever permitted at funerals?
The priest or deacon who presides at the funeral will give a homily during the service. And while the homily differs from a eulogy, most homilists make the effort to speak in a personal way about the deceased and to relate the scripture readings to the life of the deceased. For this reason, and because many eulogies tend to be highly personal in nature and not in keeping with the prayerful nature of the funeral liturgy, the Church discourages the traditional funeral eulogy or suggests that, if one is to take place, it be given at the reception or even at the cemetery.

However, if circumstances indicate that a eulogy is appropriate, it is offered by a family member or friend at the beginning of the funeral service and should be no more than 500 words in length. We ask that the text of the eulogy be shared with the pastor at least 24 hours before the funeral. This is done in order to ensure the appropriateness of the remarks and to assist the presider who will not want to make statements in his homily that will later be repeated in the eulogy.

When does the burial take place?
When the body has been brought to the church, the burial usually takes place immediately after the funeral or, sometimes, after the reception. If cremation is to follow the funeral, the burial of the remains takes place some time later. A deacon, lay minister, or the priest who presided at the funeral leads the graveside service with family members and friends in attendance.

What is the practice with regard to Vigil celebrations and Rosaries?
In some cases, families choose to have a vigil for the deceased during the time following death and before the funeral liturgy. The vigil may be celebrated in the home of the deceased or in the funeral home. It may also be celebrated in the church, although scheduling problems in the parish frequently make this difficult if not impossible. Some families, because of the deceased member’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, choose to recite the rosary at this time. None of these vigil celebrations require the presence of a priest or deacon and can be led by family members. The pastor will be happy to furnish appropriate materials upon request.

Does the parish have space for a reception and how much does it cost?
Yes. Reception space is usually available at the parish, in the parish Conger Hall. You will be provided detailed information about caterers and how receptions are handled.

Are there fees involved with a funeral?
• There is no fee for the funeral Mass. Some families choose to make a memorial offering to the parish in honor of the deceased.

Can other musicians participate at a funeral mass?
Other qualified musicians may participate either before the mass as a prelude or by doing a solo at a mutually agreeable time. This can be discussed with the Music Director when she reaches out to the contact person.

How is the funeral liturgy planned?
A normal Christian burial, as outlined in the Order of Christian Funerals, consists of three separate ceremonies: The Vigil Service (viewing and/or rosary), the Funeral Liturgy/Mass, and the Rite of Committal. Once a date is confirmed with Father, you will meet with the priest or another staff member. Call or email the office to schedule a time to meet. To ease the burden on the family and to ensure the sacredness and reverence of the Liturgy, the parish provides the Altar Servers, Sacristan, EMs, Musicians, and Priest – all of whom are specially trained to serve at Funeral Masses.

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