As the organisation of the Archdiocese has moved to Pastoral Areas, whilst retaining the various parishes, one thing is sure and that is that all families will be well looked after during a time of bereavement and loss. You know only too well that when one member of the Body of Christ suffers, you all suffer and share the load of grief and pain.
Ninness Funeral Home is totally committed to working with you, your parish priest and lay pastoral leader, to ensure that your loved ones and your wishes are carried out in a dignified and reverent way.
At Ninness’, we are very sensitive to your Catholic tradition and will be able to guide you through the various parts of the Order of Christian Funerals which is where we are guided in the ways of the Catholic community’s rites of farewell.
At the time of death, the community enters into a time of accompanying you on this journey of leave taking. Our belief in the resurrection enables us to grieve with hope and it is this reality that forms the focus of the celebration of your loved ones life.
Throughout the celebration of a Requiem Mass (sometimes called the Funeral Mass) or Funeral Service, the focus is on the consolation of the family and the certainty that Jesus is with us as we mourn the loss of a loved family and community member.
From the time of death to the time of interment or cremation, a ‘walking with you’ takes place within the Catholic community. There are generally two or three main occasions when we gather.
When it comes to preparing the funeral it may be helpful to keep the following in mind.
Some examples of prayer intentions are: (Prepare 4 or 5)
The reader might say something like: "At the end of each prayer, the phrase 'Lord hear us' will be said and we respond "Lord hear our prayer"."
1. Lord, help us to cope with ___________’s death and find comfort in knowing she/he is at peace in Your care.
Lord hear us.
2. Lord, we pray for the family and friends of that they may be comforted in their grief.Lord hear us.
3. We ask you Lord to give comfort and love to her/his children, grandchildren and all her/his family and friends gathered here. May Your strength and courage be with them, now and always. Lord hear us.
4. We ask You to watch over the family and friends who loved and give them the strength to continue to live by his/her example with love and kindness he/she gave to the family. Lord hear us.
5. We pray for ‘s family: for and all their families. Give them strength and peace during this time. Lord hear us.
6. Lord, we remember for his/her cheek, his/her fun, his/her love of life and his/her pocket of lollies for his/her grandchildren. Bless his/her family with the same joyous gifts you gave to him/her. Lord hear us.
7. We pray for and ; that they may be comforted in their grief by the Lord who wept at the death of Lazarus. Lord hear us.
8. We pray for the family that they will receive courage, strength and comfort from having shared ‘s life and faith. Lord hear us.
If you decide not to celebrate a Requiem Mass for your loved one, you may wish instead to have a Funeral Service, that is, a Service without the Eucharist. Whilst the structure is not as formalised as it is with the Mass, it would still have hymns, readings and prayers to farewell your loved one in a caring and respectful way.
Your funeral director in conjunction with your Priest or Lay Pastoral Assistant will be only too happy to advise you to ensure that the farewell of your loved one is carried out with the greatest respect for all involved. You may have a strong connection with your parish or you may have next to no connection. Please do not worry. The Catholic community is called to do the work of Jesus and ensure that you are being looked after in a deeply sensitive and non judgmental way. That is their promise to you.
Ninness Funeral Home is totally committed to working with you, your parish priest and lay pastoral leader, to ensure that your loved ones and your wishes are carried out in a dignified and reverent way.
At Ninness’, we are very sensitive to your Catholic tradition and will be able to guide you through the various parts of the Order of Christian Funerals which is where we are guided in the ways of the Catholic community’s rites of farewell.
At the time of death, the community enters into a time of accompanying you on this journey of leave taking. Our belief in the resurrection enables us to grieve with hope and it is this reality that forms the focus of the celebration of your loved ones life.
Throughout the celebration of a Requiem Mass (sometimes called the Funeral Mass) or Funeral Service, the focus is on the consolation of the family and the certainty that Jesus is with us as we mourn the loss of a loved family and community member.
From the time of death to the time of interment or cremation, a ‘walking with you’ takes place within the Catholic community. There are generally two or three main occasions when we gather.
- The Vigil. This takes place the evening before and for some it will be the rosary and for others again it may be a less formally structured gathering. This is often a great time to begin telling the stories, listening to favourite music, prayers, silent reflection and so on.
- The Requiem Mass (sometimes called The Funeral Mass). This tends to be the main focus within the community. We Gather to support each other. We Listen to the Word of God and are inspired by it and given hope. We Give Thanks for all that Jesus has done and for the life of our loved one. We say Goodbye in the Prayers of Farewell and Commendation.
- The Cemetery or Crematorium. This is possibly the most difficult time as we take physical leave of our loved one. Whilst a relatively short part of our gathering, it can also be a very moving time as well.
When it comes to preparing the funeral it may be helpful to keep the following in mind.
- The selection of hymns should be ones that people will know and be able to sing along to. Music is seen as a great way of praying!
- The readings are selected from either the Old or New Testaments of the Bible or both. Choose ones that offer hope and consolation and depict something of your loved one’s faith. When selecting a reader or readers, bear in mind that not everyone will be able to get up in front of a congregation and read in a manner that ensures that people can hear the message and be touched by it. There are some really inspirational words!
- The Prayer of the Faithful give an opportunity for you to pray for your loved one who has died, for you as a family, for those who care for you and your loved one and for anyone who may be in need.
- There are many non-verbal jobs that will need to be done and this can be a great way of involving family members who want to be involved. This may include handing out the Orders of Service or bringing up the gifts of bread and wine.
- The use of technology provides us with many ways in which we can remember our loved ones. There is also a need to be sensitive to the church community in what it asks of us when it comes to the appropriate time to show PowerPoint presentations and use songs or poems from a non Christian tradition.
- If there is to be a eulogy, the preference within the Catholic Church is that there only be one and that it be given prior to the formal start of the Mass. This would also be true of any DVD presentation. This is so that the integrity of the Mass and the quality of your personal reflections may each be given their appropriate place and dignity.
Some examples of prayer intentions are: (Prepare 4 or 5)
The reader might say something like: "At the end of each prayer, the phrase 'Lord hear us' will be said and we respond "Lord hear our prayer"."
1. Lord, help us to cope with ___________’s death and find comfort in knowing she/he is at peace in Your care.
Lord hear us.
2. Lord, we pray for the family and friends of that they may be comforted in their grief.Lord hear us.
3. We ask you Lord to give comfort and love to her/his children, grandchildren and all her/his family and friends gathered here. May Your strength and courage be with them, now and always. Lord hear us.
4. We ask You to watch over the family and friends who loved and give them the strength to continue to live by his/her example with love and kindness he/she gave to the family. Lord hear us.
5. We pray for ‘s family: for and all their families. Give them strength and peace during this time. Lord hear us.
6. Lord, we remember for his/her cheek, his/her fun, his/her love of life and his/her pocket of lollies for his/her grandchildren. Bless his/her family with the same joyous gifts you gave to him/her. Lord hear us.
7. We pray for and ; that they may be comforted in their grief by the Lord who wept at the death of Lazarus. Lord hear us.
8. We pray for the family that they will receive courage, strength and comfort from having shared ‘s life and faith. Lord hear us.
If you decide not to celebrate a Requiem Mass for your loved one, you may wish instead to have a Funeral Service, that is, a Service without the Eucharist. Whilst the structure is not as formalised as it is with the Mass, it would still have hymns, readings and prayers to farewell your loved one in a caring and respectful way.
Your funeral director in conjunction with your Priest or Lay Pastoral Assistant will be only too happy to advise you to ensure that the farewell of your loved one is carried out with the greatest respect for all involved. You may have a strong connection with your parish or you may have next to no connection. Please do not worry. The Catholic community is called to do the work of Jesus and ensure that you are being looked after in a deeply sensitive and non judgmental way. That is their promise to you.
