Planning a funeral has serveral steps through which a member of our Funeral Ministry will guide you.  These steps include:

1. Designate a Main Contact: it is helpful if our office can contact one person throughout the planning process.  Chose a family member who is able to easily relay information between the family and the parish.
2. Choose Scripture Readings: you can look through the approved list of readings provided above in the "Documents" section of this webpage.  The first reading must be from the Old Testament and the second must be from the New Testament.
3. Choose People to Read the Scripture: you may have one person read both readings or two people each do one reading.  Readers should be Catholics, but you may request an exemption from the pastor.  We are also happy to provide one of our Lectors to read for you at the funeral Mass.
4. Choose People to Bring up the Gifts: this is optional, but you may choose two people to bring up and offer on behalf of the community the bread and wine used at Mass that become Jesus' Body and Blood.
5. Choose Who Will Place the Funeral Pall: it is perfectly fine to have the funeral home directors place the the pall over the caket, but you may also choose two family members to place the pall.
6. Choose Hymns: you may choose 3 hymns to be used in the funeral Mass from our list of approved hymns provided above in the "Documents" section of this webpage.  Recordings of the hymns are also available on the next tab.  Only hymns on our list will be allowed at the Mass.

If you have questions, please reach out the the Parish Secretary of the church where the funeral is taking place:

• St. Anthony: Connie Kiss, 508-548-0108
• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton: Mary Voci, 508-563-7770
• St. Patrick: Peg Frederick: 508-548-1065

St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family Parish's policy on eulogies is formed by the teaching of the Catholic Church.  It aims to provide a pastoral moment for families to both help with their own grieving and entrusting their loved one to God's care and also to help build the bond of communion between the deceased and their larger faith community, inspiring and encouraging the community by sharing aspects of the deceased's faith and relationship with Jesus of which others may not have been aware.  It also aims to ensure that Jesus is properly honored at Mass, which is the sacred celebration that makes present his sacrifice of his own life for us.  In order to accomplish these goals, we have set forth the following policy:
 

1. Catholic Church Guidelines on Eulogies (also called "Words of Remembrance")
   • The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recommends eulogies be given at the Vigil (Wake) Service at the funeral home while friends and family are gathered together.
   • The General Instruction of the Roman Missal does not permit a eulogy to be given during Mass (GIRM #380).
   • In light of these guidelines provided by the Church, our parish encourages eulogies to be given at the Vigil/Wake service, but will allow a eulogy to be given at the church immediately before the funeral Mass begins.
2. St. Joseph Parish Guidelines on the Content of Eulogies
   • The purpose of the eulogy is to inspire and encourage those present to deepen their own relationship with Jesus by speaking about how the deceased bore witness to the Catholic faith during their life.  How a person lived their faith, deepened their relationship with Jesus, and showed selfless love to others are the proper subject matter of a eulogy.  Any other praises should be reserved for the reception following Mass.  Our staff are happy to help you think about ways your loved one lived their faith.  But, if you find this area of their life difficult to write about, then we strongly recommend giving the eulogy at the reception following the Mass.
   • While only one person may read the eulogy, family members should be invited to share in the preparation of the eulogy.  Their shared memories often form a beautiful picture of the deceased.    
   • The primary function of a funeral is to offer the Sacred Celebration of the Mass for the benefit of the repose of the soul of the deceased.  The language used in a eulogy should never be crass or overly casual; it should be reverent and respectful in keeping with the sacred nature of the funeral Mass, where God himself is present among us.
   • No part of the eulogy may express ideas that are contrary to the Catholic faith.  We are happy to guide you as you write the eulogy to make sure that everything is an accurate expression of our faith.  The Catholic faith is based on the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, who shares eternal life with those who believe in him - no better words can be written to bring comfort and hope to those who mourn.
3. St. Joseph Parish Procedure for Giving Eulogies at the Church
   • Only one person may deliver the eulogy, not teams or groups.  A backup reader should be chosen in the event that the original reader cannot finish the eulogy.
   • The eulogy must be less than 650 written words, which is about 5 minutes spoken.
   • The written eulogy must be submitted to our parish by email (office@falmouthcatholic.org) at least 24 hours before the funeral for review and approval.  Our parish reserves the right to omit anything from the eulogy that is contrary to Catholic teaching or not in keeping with the sanctity and reverence of the Mass being offered for the deceased.
   • Our parish will provide a printed copy of the eulogy for the reader.  They may not bring their own copy or read from their own notes or add any other remarks that are not on the approved eulogy provided.  The priest has the right and the responsibility to honor and protect the sacredness of the Mass and will ask the eulogy reader to not continue if the priest sees our parish policy being violated or ignored.

Our parish has two cemeteries with plots available for purchase.  For more information, please contact:

• St. Joseph Cemetery (Gifford Ave.): Peg Frederick, 508-548-1065
• St. Anthony Cemetery (Rout 28, St. Anthony Church): Connie Kiss, 508-548-0108