Placing of the Funeral Pall

As part of the funeral ritual, at the beginning of Mass, a pall (or large, beautiful white cloth) is placed on the casket, symbolic of the baptismal garment that the deceased was clothed in on the day of his/her baptism. A noble custom is for family members or close friends of the deceased to assist with the placing of the pall on the coffin. As many as six people can be chosen to perform this task for their loved one. Please indicate the number of people who will be doing this on the planning form. 

Offertory Gifts

You may choose two or three people to bring forward the gifts of bread and wine for the Funeral Mass. Please indicate the names on the planning form so that the gifts may be prepared. The offertory gifts will be located on a table in the break in the pews half way up the aisle.

Eulogy or Words of Remembrance

We ask that you also take the time to share personal information with both the Bereavement ministers and on the planning sheet. This will aid the preparation of the homily at the Funeral Mass.
Since every effort will be made to include personal information about your deceased loved one in the Funeral Mass homily, the policy is that there be no added remarks of remembrance (Eulogy) at the Mass. A Eulogy can more appropriately be given at the Funeral Home, graveside or at the luncheon afterwards.

Hymns for the Funeral Mass

You may choose a total of four hymns or sacred songs to be sung during the liturgy. These may be chosen from the list included below. Please record your choices on the liturgy planning form.

Kindly complete the Liturgy Planning sheet online which is available on the same website page and click the “SUBMIT” button.

Otherwise, your completed liturgy planning form may be dropped off at the Rectory at your convenience, so that we are able to properly prepare the liturgy beforehand.

If you are choosing someone to read at the Funeral Mass, the person chosen must be a Catholic and familiar with proclaiming the readings at the Sacred Liturgy. There are two readings for a Funeral Mass.

• The First reading is taken from the Old Testament selections (8); please choose one.
• The Second reading is taken from the New Testament selections (16); please choose one. Please note that the readers at Mass will be reading from the Lectionary for Mass (the official book of readings), not the sheets in this booklet. Please indicate the names of the readers on the planning sheet.

The readers should be in the sacristy (the preparation room behind the altar area) fifteen minutes before the Funeral Mass. We would like to personally speak with the readers and explain to them the procedure of reading at a Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Peace Church.

• Please note that if you do not, for whatever reason, have someone who is a family member or friend who is able to proclaim the readings and intercessions at the Funeral Mass, we would be happy to provide a reader who is a member of our parish community who would be happy to perform this service for you.

First Reading (Old Testament)

• 2 Maccabees 12:43-46 ~ He had the resurrection of the dead in view.
• Job 19:1, 23-27a ~ I know that my Vindicator lives.
• Job 19:1, 23-27a ~ I know that my Vindicator lives.
• Wisdom 3:1-9  ~ The souls of the just are in the hand of God.
• Wisdom 4:7-15 ~ The just man shall be at rest.
• Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9 ~ The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces.
• Lamentations 3:17-26 ~ It is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the Lord.
• Daniel 12:1-3 ~ Those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.
• Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

Second Reading (New Testament)

• Romans 5:5-11 ~ Since we are now justified by his Blood, we will be saved through him from the wrath.
• Romans 5:17-21 ~ Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more.
• Romans 6:3-9 ~ We too might live in newness of life.
• Romans 8:14-23 ~ We also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
• Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39 ~ What will separate us from the love of Christ?.
• Romans 14:7-9, 10c-12 ~ Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
• 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 ~ So too in Christ shall all be brought to life.
• 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 ~ Death is swallowed up in victory.
• 2 Corinthians 4:14-5:1 ~ What is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.
• 2 Corinthians 5-1, 6-10 ~ We have a building from God, eternal in heaven.
• Philippians 3:20-21 ~ He will change our lowly bodies to conform to his glory.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ~ Thus we shall always be with the Lord.
• 2 Timothy 2:8-13 ~ lf we have died with him we shall also live with him.
• 1 John 3:1-2 ~ We shall see him as he is.
• 1 John 3:14-16 ~ We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers.
• Revelation 21, 1-5, 6-7 ~ There will be no more death

You may also choose someone to read the General Intercessions (or Prayer of the Faithful) at the Funeral Mass. There are two sets of General Intercessions from which you may choose. Please indicate the name of the person leading the General Intercessions on the planning sheet.

• General Intercessions Form 1
• General Intercessions Form 2

You are asked to make your choices: an Entrance Song; Responsorial Psalm, a song for the Presentation of Gifts; a Communion Song; Meditation song and a Closing Song. (Please note that after each title its appropriate uses are indicated.) Please write your choices on the Liturgy Planning Form.

Note: Gospel Acclamation, Eucharistic Prayer Acclamation, and song while the body is incensed will all also be sung at the Funeral Mass; and are generally chosen by the organist and cantor. Please remember that only sacred music composed for use in the liturgy is permitted.

1. Gathering (Entrance) Hymn

• Fly Like a Bird (Canedo)
• Here I Am, Lord (Schutte)
• I Know That My Redeemer Lives (Soper)
• Be Not Afraid (Dufford)

2. Responsorial Psalm

• 23 The Lord is My Shepherd
• 23 I Shall Live in the House of the Lord
• 23 Shepherd Me, O God
• 27 The Lord is My Light and My Salvation
• 34 Taste and See
• 103 The Lord is Kind and Merciful

3. Presentation of Gifts

• Come to Me (Norbet)
• Prayer of St. Francis (Temple)
• Precious Lord, Take My Hand
• All I Ask of You (Norbet)
• We Walk By Faith (Alford)
• I Have Loved You (Joncas)
• Amazing Grace
• Just A Closer Walk with Thee (Kavchuk)
• Song of Farewell (Sands)
• Carry Me Home (Alstott)
• May the Angels Lead You Home (Hart and La Rosa) 
• There is a Season (Kendzia)
• Stand By Me (Kendzia)
• Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling (Thompson)
• You are Near (Schutte)

4. Communion

• One Bread, One Body
• Panis Angelicus
• Spirit and Grace
• Gift of Finest Wheat
• We Remember (Haugen)
• I Am the Bread of Life (Toolan)
• Eat This Bread
• The Supper of the Lord
• Behold the Lamb

5. Meditation

• Ave Maria (Schubert)
• Hail Mary, Gentle Woman (Landry)
• May the Road Rise Up (Kendzia)
• Irish Blessing (Stookey)
• Eternal Father, Strong to Save (for someone in the military)
• Loving God (sung to the tune of Danny Boy, McCoy)

6. Final Commendation

• Come to His/Her Aid (Song of Farewell/Old Hundreth)
• May the Angels Be Your Guide (MacAller)
• In Paradisum (done acapella)
• Song of Farewell (La Manna)

7. Recessional

• On Eagles Wings
• How Great Thou Art
• Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
• Faith of Our Fathers
• For All the Saints
• Soon and Very Soon
• Let There Be Peace on Earth