Father Demo and the parish staff are committed to helping you prepare for a funeral.
The Catholic funeral consists of three stages: the Vigil (wake), the Mass of Christian Burial, and the Committal(Burial). It is also convenient to schedule a time during the vigil for "Words of Remembrance" to be shared, which should also occur at the funeral home.
For the funeral Mass, the following references will assist you to prepare a funeral for a loved one or to pre-plan your own rites. In the latter case, write down your choices, and give a copy of these choices to the member of the familiy who will be in charge of your funeral and give to the funeral director to include with the other items found in your pre-arrangements.
Funeral Hymns
There are four places for hymns during the funeral: entrance, presentation of the gifts, communion, and recessional. In addition, there is the responsorial psalm usually led by the cantor and the hymn of farewell if your body or ashes are present for the funeral. During the presentation of the gifts and communion, you can opt to have the organist play appropriate music rather than singing a hymn.
Click here for sung samples of the most frequently used hymns. Click here for a listing of other music often used during a funeral.
Funeral Readings
Similar to a Sunday liturgy, there are three readings: Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospel.
Usually, the priest celebrant will choose the Gospel. Links for the Old Testament and New Testament readings are below:
Old Testament Readings New Testament Readings The responsorial psalm is usually "The Lord is my shepherd. There is nothing I shall want."
However, click here for some alternatives. The Gospel selection is usually chosen by the priest celebrant or by the deacon or priest who will preach.
The selections used are found here.
General Intercessions
There is a variety of choices for the General Intercessions. You may also compose your own. Here are some samples. These two documents are in MS Word format and will automatically download to your computer allowing you to edit them as you see fit.
Intercessions for a man. Intercessions for a woman.
Entrance hymn
First reading and reader
Second reading and reader
General Intercessions
Who will bring up the gifts of bread and wine
Hymn for the presentation of the gifts or simple background music or a solo hymn.
Hymn for communion or simple background music or a solo hymn.
Recessional hymn
In the Diocese of Ogdensburg, the preferred option for "Words of Remembrance" is to offer them at the Vigil Service(Wake), Committal(Burial) or at a luncheon following the funeral, but not at the Mass.