Christian Burial
[Jesus said:] “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." -- Matthew 5:4
Of all the Church's pastoral ministrations, none is quite so profound or poignant as the burial of the dead. For the bereaved, our deepest desire is to offer the solace and comfort found in the Gospel proclamation of the resurrection and the life of the world to come. For those who have died, the Church offers her prayers and spiritual sacrifices in the confidence that "life is changed, not ended; and when our mortal body doth lie in death, there is prepared for us a dwelling place eternal in the heavens" (Book of Common Prayer, p. 349).
When a parishioner is near death, the priest should be notified immediately so that the Last Rites may be administered. Please also notify the priest at the time of death so that the “Ministration at the Time of Death” may be said over the body. Calls for these purposes can and should be made at any time of the day or night.
As soon as possible, the Rector will meet with the next of kin to plan the details of the funeral service. All church members are strongly encouraged to record their wishes concerning their funeral service and file them with the parish office.
The funeral service is normally held in the church. Where possible, we strongly encourage bringing the body to the church for the funeral before it is taken for burial or cremation. A Requiem Mass is the appropriate service for one who was a communicant member of the Church.