Catholic Funeral Services
When someone you love dies, you are often overwhelmed with sadness. While we all hope to continue our relationship with that person in Heaven, it is still painful to realize that we will not see him/her again until that day comes. At times like these, it’s important to know that you have a community of people who understand your grief and want to help you in any way they can. We want to make things easier for you during your grieving process. Here are all the details you need to know about Catholic funeral services in Singapore.
What is the purpose of Catholic funeral services?
To organize a Catholic funeral, ensuring that most of the logistical and planning details are taken care of as the client gathers friends and family members to mourn, offer support, and pay their last respects.
What happens at Catholic funerals?
At a Catholic funeral service, the body of the deceased is usually present in a traditional casket surrounded by flowers and with a portrait picture of themself propped in front (their passport/IC picture if there is no other photo).
Before the Catholic funeral service
The Wake/The Vergil – A wake is a religious ceremony held to honor the deceased, usually in the presence of family and friends. The priest usually leads the ceremony. The bible and rosary are used, as well as readings, songs, poetry, and memories of the deceased. Eulogies and memories are shared by loved ones, allowing them to comfort one another before the final mass and committal.
The day of the Catholic funeral service
The Entrance – Family and friends are invited to accompany the casket or urn of a loved one into the church, symbolizing that they are carrying the deceased “back to God.” The priest often sprinkles the casket or urn with Holy Water as it is carried. Once placed at the altar for the ceremony, family and friends often place symbolic items onto the casket, such as a bible or crucifix.
Prayers – The priest will lead the congregation in prayers, readings from Scripture, and discussing the topic of resurrection and judgment day. The members of the congregation all pray that God will have mercy on the deceased’s soul and allow them into heaven.
Holy Communion ceremony – This will take place as part of the funeral service. Anyone present who has been committed and baptized as a Catholic will step forward to receive Communion.
Personal readings and music – Additional readings and pieces of music that hold personal meaning for the family can be included at their request.
Rite of Committal – The service concludes with the casket being lowered into the ground. The priest waves incense to represent prayers offered through the incense to God on behalf of the deceased. During the service, the congregation says special prayers and as the casket is lowered, the priest recites: “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust”.
The day after the Catholic funeral service
A common Catholic tradition is for close friends and family to gather at the site of burial, the home of the deceased, or a church after the funeral so that members can comfort and express condolences. Food and drinks are usually prepared, but some families do a potluck where each person contributes a dish for everyone to partake in.
When are Catholic funerals held?
Catholic funerals usually are held two to three days after a person dies, though they may take place any time within a week of the person’s death.
How long do Catholic funerals last?
The majority of Catholic funeral mass will last between 40 minutes to an hour. If the priest includes the Holy Communion and a lot of people respond, it might take longer. The entire funeral process, including wake, mass, and committal should last for about 2 days.
Should I bring flowers?
Check with the family first. If they allow it, then you can bring flowers to decorate the casket according to Catholic funeral traditions. Just avoid ones that are too cutesy or bright.
What do you wear to a Catholic funeral service?Because a funeral is a somber occasion, it is best to dress in conservative colors and styles. Black, white, and muted colours like brown, gray, and blue for example. Do not wear bright colours, casual clothes, fashionably ripped jeans, etc.
Can non-Catholics be invited to a Catholic funeral?
Yes, anyone who is related to the deceased and is invited by the host can come to pay their last respects. Non-Catholics won’t need to partake in the Holy Communion either, just make sure that they remain respectful during procedures.
What should I prepare for when considering Catholic funeral services?
First, check your budget and consider your expectations for the funeral. Do you want it to be grand, or simple? How many seats are you expecting to be filled? The 4k – 5k budget changes depending on your options, so it’s best to discuss with family and friends your budget, finances, and consider pooling money together if needed.
Questions Catholic funeral services might ask you:
- Burial or Cremation
- Funeral location: church, cemetery, or crematorium
- Funeral with or without a Mass
- Preferred dates and time
- Funeral readings and music choices
- Decide roles. Who in the family will carry the coffin, do readings, pray, place the bible and crucifix, etc.
- Decide on one person who will speak in memory of the deceased
- Instructions for flowers
- Reception details
Tips for the grieving individual
- Facing your loss is difficult. You may not feel like attending the funeral at all. You might not even want to think about it. But attending the service can be a very helpful part of the healing process for you and your family, as well as for all those who are important to you.
- It is important to remember that it is not your responsibility to make every attendee feel better at the funeral. You are grieving as well and must take care of yourself before you can help others.
- There is no right way to grieve, but try your best to maintain your composure and treat others with kindness.
Conclusion
We hope that you find this article useful and that your funeral service can be a beautiful occasion, where family and friends gather to remember the dearly departed, exchange memorable stories, and celebrate their life on Earth as it was.
May the memories of your loved one bring you peace and comfort, and may you be comforted by the knowledge that resurrection awaits.
All about Catholic funeral services; how it is different from Christian ones.
Introduction
Funerals are a way to commemorate the life and remember the person who has passed away. They provide a way to grieve and an opportunity for you to connect with friends and family members.
Catholics have funeral practices that differ from Christian ones, so you must know what happens at these ceremonies before attending one.
What happens in a Catholic funeral service
The first thing you should know about Catholic funeral services is that they’re held in a church. When someone dies, the body is usually displayed for viewing by family and friends.
This can be done at home or a funeral home; however, it’s more common for Catholics to hold wakes in their own homes because of religious beliefs surrounding death. The following are the various things done in the funeral service.
The wake
The wake is a time for family and friends to come together to support one another. It’s also an opportunity for the community, which may not have known the deceased personally but is still affected by their death, to pay their respects.
The body is present during this time, so those who wish may see it one last time before burial or cremation. They can say goodbye and give their final hugs and kisses – whatever seems appropriate given your relationship with them.
The funeral mass
At the heart of Catholic funeral services is the celebration of life. A Catholic funeral mass is held at a church, usually on the day of or before the burial service.
The Mass is usually held in the morning, although there is no hard and fast rule about this; it depends on your parish priest’s schedule and what time he thinks will be most convenient for everyone involved.
The essential part of any Catholic funeral service is not just saying goodbye to someone who has passed away but celebrating their life and giving thanks for all they did while they were with us on earth.
Who attends
When a Catholic funeral service takes place, it’s essential to know that in attendance we have: the family of the deceased, the priest, the deacon, and other ministers who are involved with the ceremony, the pallbearers and their helpers, and a choir.
Where they are held
Funeral services are typically held in a church or chapel but can also be held outdoors. The wake is usually held at the deceased’s home, though some families choose to have it at another location.
Order of service
A Catholic funeral service is a religious ceremony after a person dies, and it is different from a Christian funeral, which you may have seen in movies or TV shows.
The order of service is dictated by the Catholic Church and includes three parts: a wake (or vigil), a funeral mass, and then burial or cremation. The duration of a Catholic funeral is also totally different from a Christian one.
Prayers, readings, songs, and hymns
A Catholic funeral service will include prayers, readings, songs, and hymns. The priest will lead the prayers, which are usually said in Latin.
The readings can be from the Bible or other religious texts such as the Book of Common Prayer. The congregation and choir members sing songs and hymns during this section of a Catholic funeral.
What to wear, the mood, and the acceptance gifts
At a Catholic funeral, some people wear black, and others wear their best clothes. You can do whatever you like in a dress. If you are bringing flowers or gifts, please ensure they are not wrapped in plastic or cellophane.
The custom at Catholic funerals is for all gifts to be laid on an altar table in front of the casket before Mass begins so those who wish can take one home with them after Mass has ended.
What happens after a catholic funeral
After the funeral service, you may have your loved one buried or cremated. Both options are perfectly acceptable if they are the wishes of a family member or friend.
If they have been buried, their body will be placed into a casket and transported to their final resting place by car or horse-drawn carriage, depending on what is available in your area.
The procession will be led by clergy members, who will recite prayers as they go along, with other people following behind them carrying flowers and candles for lighting at graveside ceremonies.
When it comes time for burial after these services have concluded, there’s usually some memorial service held afterward so people can come together again and remember those who passed away during this time.
Conclusion
A catholic funeral is an exceptional event. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the life of someone who has passed away, and it’s also an important time for family members and friends to assemble to remember their deceased loved ones.
The processional music is often quite solemn, so it’s best not to wear bright colors or floral prints if attending one of these services, but if you choose something bright, make sure it isn’t too short.
- Half glass coffin 棺木 (E20)
- Pall bearer services 工人
- Transportation 车费 {Van for Shifting, Sending, Funeral}
- Hearse灵车
- Embalming 防腐和化妆 {Post Mortem add $180}
- Embalming room防腐房
- Photo enlarge 冲洗照片 {Complimentary first photo}
- Photo wreath & table top 照片和桌花
- One bus on funeral day 巴士 {45 seater}
- Landscape decoration * Artificial flower *
- Candles 蜡烛
- Half glass coffin 棺木
- Pall bearer services 工人
- Transportation 车费 {Van for Shifting, Sending, Funeral}
- Limousine Hearse灵车
- Embalming 防腐和化妆 {Post Mortem add $180}
- Embalming room防腐房
- Photo enlarge 冲洗照片 {Complimentary first photo}
- Photo wreath & table top 照片和桌花
- Coffin top flower 棺木花 (Heart Shape)
- One bus on funeral day 巴士 {45 seater}
- Candles 蜡烛
- Landscape decoration
- Half glass coffin 棺木 (E80)
- Pall bearer services 工人
- Transportation 车费{Van for Shifting, Sending, Funeral}
- Hearse灵车
- Embalming 防腐和化妆 {Post Mortem add $180}
- Embalming room防腐房
- Photo enlarge 冲洗照片{Complimentary first photo}
- Photo wreath & table top 照片和桌花
- Coffin top flower (Heart Shape)
- One bus on funeral day 巴士 {45 seater}
- Landscape decoration * Artificial flower *
- 55” Flat Screen Television
- Candles 蜡烛 {Roman Catholic}
- Hot Drinks Dispenser Machine (1 package power complimentary)
- Servers X 2 (Last Night)
- 10 carton mineral water and 10 carton packet drink, peanut, sweet…etc
- 1 mobile toilet, 1 chiller
- 40 pax Buffet dinner (Last night)
