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SACRAMENTS: Funerals
Last revised:
March 7, 2008 4:20 PM
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"Happy are those who have died in the Lord;
let them
rest from their labors for their good deeds go with them."
~Revelations
14:13
May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed
rest in peace. Amen | On
this Page:
The Order of Christian Funerals | Other
Important Information | Funeral Luncheon Ministry
Grief Support and Widowed Friends | Touched
By Suicide | Bereavement Ministry
The
Order of Christian Funerals
Parishes often
receive notice that a member of their assembly has died when the local funeral
director calls to make arrangements for the funeral liturgy. There is a variety
of outreach available to you from St. Blase Parish. "At
the death of a Christian, whose life of faith was begun in the waters of Baptism
and strengthened at the Eucharistic table, the Church intercedes on behalf of
the deceased because of its confident belief that death is not the end nor does
it break the bonds forged in life." ~Order of Christian Funerals #4 In
union with all Christ's faithful people, the prayer of the Church brings spiritual
help to our loved one and consoling hope to those who mourn as we give witness
to our faith in the future resurrection of the baptized with Christ. The
staff here at St. Blase would be very happy to work with you individually to plan
your loved one's funeral. After meeting with the local funeral director, please
call the parish to make an appointment with our Pastor or Pastoral Associate (586)
268-2244 to discuss the celebration of the funeral rites. We have four movements
with the prayer for the Order of Christian Funerals: - The
Vigil Service
The Night before the Eucharistic Liturgy is celebrated,
you will gather your family and friends at the funeral home for a time of remembering.
Our Church tradition teaches us the "at the vigil the Christian community
keeps watch with the family in prayer to the God of mercy and finds strength in
Christ's presence." St. Blase Parish enters into this process of remembering
by offering the prayer of the Church which is a scripture service calling us to
an awareness of God's mercy. Some families do have
a long tradition of praying the rosary together as a family. If this is your tradition,
then our parish wants to respect that tradition, and we will join you in its recitation.
We encourage different family members to lead the different decades of the prayer,
and we will offer scriptural references to Christ's message
of comfort. - Gathering Rite
On
the morning of the funeral, it is our tradition to gather with your family and
friends at St. Blase Church, not the funeral home. These gathering rites allow
us time to be with you and pray with you on the morning of the funeral. The procession
of cars is formed here at St. Blase, and the family is given private time with
their loved one prior to the procession into church.
- Eucharistic
Liturgy
When you meet with our Pastoral
Staff they will want to discuss your special memories of your loved one. Then,
together you will discuss choices for music and Sacred Scripture. Some members
of your family may be Lectors or Eucharistic Ministers. If they are, this is an
appropriate time to incorporate their ministry into the Rites for Christian Burial.
Your family may also wish to place the pall on the casket at the liturgy or present
the bread and wine at the preparation of the gifts. All these choices are discussed
at the meeting with our staff. By working through each phase of the funeral liturgy,
your family will have opportunity to involve more people in this important process.
- Cemetery: Rite of Committal
The fourth phase of the Rites of Christian Burial are the prayers that are offered
at the cemetery. Out tradition teaches us that "the rite of committal marks
the separation in this life of the mourners from the deceased, and through it
the community assists them as they complete their care for the deceased and lay
the body to rest."
| Other Important
Information: Cremation Can Catholics be
cremated?
Yes. Since 1963 Catholics have
had the choice to be cremated.
When should the cremation take place?
The Church prefers that the cremation take place after the full funeral liturgy.
However in American culture, cremation often takes place immediately after death. If
the cremation takes place immediately after death, what about the funeral liturgy?
If this is the case, then the ashes should be brought to the Church for the funeral
liturgy in a worthy container. There are prayers in the Order of Christian Funeral
for cremation. May we scatter the ashes?
No.
"The practice of scattering cremated remains...or keeping cremated remains
in the home...are not the revert disposition that the Church requires." (Order
of Christian Funeral, Appendix II) So what should
we do?
Respectful disposition of cremated remains involves internment
or entombment. Your funeral director is able to explain these options.
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| Funeral Luncheon
Ministry In an effort to help ease the immediate tasks of those who are
grieving the loss of a loved one, St. Blase offers the option of a meal following
the funeral. Parishioners are invited to either prepare a dish at home or join
a serving team for this ministry.
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Contact the Parish Office for more details at (586) 268-2244. |
This is a great ministry that has been able to provide a wonderful
service to the families of St. Blase in their hour of need for the last seven
years. We provide a breakfast or a lunch following the funeral mass at St. Blase
for the families who wish it. We have six teams that are divided into food donors
and servers for the luncheon. There are a variety of food items that need only
to be purchased and other items that require preparation at home prior to the
luncheon. Food items can be dropped off at church the night before or the morning
of the funeral which ever works best for the donor. The servers come to church
before the funeral mass and set the tables, accept the food donations, do any
food preparation that is necessary, serve the luncheon, and clean up following
the meal. Each team is headed by a captain and co-captain, who organize the team
(approximately 10-12 workers and approximately 30-35 food donors for each team)
and make phone calls to solicit workers and food donations when their team is
called. This allows us to have good coverage, because we have only two or three
days to organize a funeral luncheon. We have to take into consideration that people
are not always available or cannot be reached when we call and we have to move
on down the list. Our ministry has been going on since September of 1997. We average
about 15-20 funeral luncheons a year. |
 |
Touched by Suicide Meetings
are held at St. Columban’s Parish Center (1775 E Melton Rd) in Birmingham,
on the 4th Wednesday of every month at 7:30 pm. See more information on
our Pastoral Services Counselng
page. |
| Bereavement
Ministry
Teams of parish members share in the wake (vigil) prayer
ministry for those being buried from St. Blase. There are three different areas
in which to minister: - Presider - Leads the prayer service
- Lector
- Reads a reading and the prayers of the faithful
- Cantor - Leads the assembled
in song
There is training for all areas. Ministers need to be available
on short notice (1-2 days). Ministers are called on a rotating basis, usually
once but occasionally twice a month. Contact Vince Schembri through the Parish
Office at (586) 268-2244. | 
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St. Blase 12151 E. Fifteen Mile Rd. Sterling
Heights, MI 48312 Phone: (586) 268-2244
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