Funeral Procedures and Protocol
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church is staffed from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Thursday and 8:00am to noon on Friday. Please call the parish office during these times when a death occurs. When the parish office is closed, please follow phone prompts for an emergency. The parish secretary will return your call as soon as possible. Almost all of our funerals are handled through a funeral home. They will help schedule funerals based on availability of facilities and clergy. Visitation in the worship space at St. Francis Xavier and St. John the Baptist is strictly prohibited. If available, visitation may take place in Bellarmine Hall or in the parish hall at St John the Baptist.
Funerals with a Funeral Director
The standard procedure for a funeral at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church or St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a funeral home works with St. Francis Xavier parish staff to set up the details of the visitation, funeral Mass or liturgy, luncheon and interment. The funeral home also provides valuable assistance with easels and tables for pictures and memory displays, and guest books. Normally, after news of death, the funeral home is contacted first. The funeral home will then contact St. Francis Xavier to determine possible times and dates for a funeral Mass or Liturgy. The family will meet with the funeral home and confirm the date and time. Family members should then contact St. Francis Xavier to arrange for a meeting with the Parish Life Coordinator/Pastor to choose scripture readings, hymns, and other details of the funeral liturgy.
Funerals without a Funeral Director
If the family of the deceased is not using a funeral home for the funeral arrangements, St. Francis Xavier Parish staff will carry out the services normally done by a funeral home, including: assisting in setting up for the funeral Mass or liturgy, and assist with any programs, memorabilia, and other items desired for the funeral. A stipend of $100 is recommended to be paid to this person, please see below under stipends.
Vigils and Wake Services
We highly encourage having the vigil and wake service at a funeral home. However, vigils and wakes may take place in Bellarmine Hall or the parish hall at St. John the Baptist. Set-up (flowers, easels, etc.) may take place anytime, however, caskets may only be set up beginning one hour before the funeral. Flowers may be left for use in the church at the discretion of the family as a temporary memorial to the deceased. Memorials may be directed to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church or St John the Baptist Catholic Church.
Recommended Funeral Stipends
The following suggested stipends/fees are based on services rendered by St. Francis Xavier staff.
Funeral Coordinator $100.00 (required in the absence of a funeral director)
Organist $75.00
Cantor $75.00
Servers $10.00 each
Priest/presider: $125.00 stole fee
Deacon: $75.00 stole fee
Bellarmine Hall fee: $125.00 for luncheon or visitation/$250 for both visitation and luncheon
While no stipend/fee is expected, families often choose to make a gift as a sign of their appreciation for the pastoral services rendered by the presiding priest and assisting deacon. In addition to the funeral service itself, this may include wake/vigil and burial services.
Luncheon Committee: Our Funeral Luncheon Committee can provide a luncheon at a modest charge. They will set-up, serve & clean-up. Complete information is provided by the St. Francis Xavier Parish Secretary.
Guest Priest/Deacon
Policy: If the family of the deceased requests a guest clergy, the Parish Life Coordinator/Pastor of St. Francis Xavier is to be informed. The funeral liturgy will generally be presided over by the St. Francis Xavier priest or deacon. The guest priest/deacon will always be welcome to concelebrate (or assist in the case of a deacon) as long as he is in good standing. At the discretion of the Parish Life Coordinator/Pastor, the guest priest or deacon may be permitted to give the homily and lead the service at the cemetery. Normally, a guest priest or deacon will not be the presider at a funeral liturgy.
Mass or Liturgy without Mass?
Policy: The standard liturgy for a deceased Catholic who was in good standing with the Church is a Mass, with the body present. A Mass should always be the presumed format. In a case where the deceased is not a practicing Catholic, or lived a life publicly contradicting Catholic beliefs and practice, a liturgy without a Mass might be more appropriate.
Eulogies or guest speakers
The grieving process necessarily includes time to remember the life of the deceased loved one. In the Catholic funeral rite, this is most appropriately done during the time of visitation, at lunch, or even at the Vigil (Wake) Service. Since the Funeral Mass is primarily the time for praise and thanks for God's gift of eternal life in Jesus, a eulogy is not permitted at the Mass. Therefore, please be sure to plan for eulogies at the visitation, Vigil (Wake) Service, or the luncheon.
Cremation and the scattering of ashes
Policy: The Catholic Church allows cremation as a means of laying a departed loved one to rest. The Church prefers traditional burial over cremation because of the fundamental Christian belief in the resurrection of the dead and the dignity of our bodies. Although the Catholic Church does allow cremation for good reasons, it has become increasingly common for people to scatter the ashes in the sea or some place that holds sentimental significance to the family or place the ashes in jewelry. Ashes should not be separated or scattered and they must be contained in an appropriate vessel and interned in a church or cemetery. If the ashes have been separated in any way, we will not provide a funeral or internment for the deceased.
A Child who has died before Baptism:
Policy: A Mass can always be celebrated for a child who has died, even without baptism. Appropriate prayers are used if the child was not baptized.
Funerals for non-Catholics
Policy: A Catholic funeral liturgy or Mass may be celebrated for a person who is not a Catholic, as long as this would not offend the sensibilities of those who attend. This case may arise when the living spouse is Catholic, and the spouse who died practiced no religion.