"The Church calls each member of Christ's Body- priest, deacon, layperson -to participate in the ministry of consolation: to care for the dying, to pray for the dead, to comfort those who mourn." (Order of Christian Funerals #8)
To journey through the process of committing a loved one back to God, the members of the Ministry of Consolation stand in support, prayer, and hands-on assistance to those who have lost their loved one.
"Christians celebrate the funeral rites to offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of life which has now been returned to God, the author of life and the hope of the just. The Mass, the memorials of Christ's death and resurrection, is the principal celebration of the Christian funeral." (OCF #5)
If you would like to participate in this ministry please contact Catherine Messina at mailbox@sjncc.org.
The Funeral Rite is comprised of three distinct rites:
To prayerfully prepare for the above, please open the PDF file:
Click here: Planning Sheet for Christian Funeral Liturgy PDF file