At the very center of our Catholic faith is the Paschal (Passover) Mystery: that Jesus' life, death and resurrection gives us hope that we may also rise from death to new life. As members of the Catholic Community, we believe that in dying Jesus destroyed our death, and that in rising from the dead, He restored our life. 
     The Catholic Church assures us that we are not alone during this time. We, as part of the larger Church community, are called upon to help our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We are tasked with a great responsibility and, thankfully, the Catholic Church lays out specific guidelines for us to follow. 
     The "Order of Christian Funerals," the text used in the Catholic Church in the US, outlines a three-part structure:

1. The Vigil Service (the night before)
2. The Funeral Liturgy (the Mass itself or a similar celebration)
3. The Rite of Committal (burial)

The Vigil Service is the first funeral rite for the deceased. Many times it is referred to as a "wake", or in our community, the Rosary. It usually, and preferably, takes place the day or evening before the funeral Mass. This is a time for family, with support from the church community, to gather in prayer for the soul of the deceased. Traditionally, the complete Vigil Service has come to be replaced with the simple praying of the Rosary. While the Rosary is a powerful devotional prayer that plays an important role in the faith of many Catholics, it alone does not fulfill the liturgical rites. 

.     The Funeral Liturgy is the main celebration of the Catholic community for the deceased. This is a time to gather with family and friends of the deceased to give praise and thanks to God. The Funeral Liturgy can take two forms:

1. Mass of Christian Burial: since the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass brings the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary forward mystically in time, is most beneficial for the soul of the deceased. The bread and wine offered at Mass are concecrated into the Body and Blood of Christ on the altar, re-presenting in a non-bloody way Our Lord's Cruficixion. Because of the sacred nature of this celebration, it is celebrated only in a sacred place (a parish church or Catholic cemetery chapel). Mass cannot be celebrated at a funeral home or graveside. 
2. Funeral Liturgy Outside of Mass: this celebration includes readings from scripture and prayers for the deceased and is similar in structure to a Mass. However, bread and wine is not offered for consecration, and Holy Communion is not distributed. It is still a valid Catholic funeral celebration, and may perhaps be most advisable if a loved one was no longer practicing their faith, or if most of the surviving family and friends no longer practice. It is shorter in length than Mass, and may be celebrated in a funeral home chapel, cemetery chapel or at graveside. 

• Please be prepared! You will be proclaiming the living and powerful Word of God at a funeral for someone who cared about you. Take your role seriously.
• Practice reading slowly and thoughtfully. It will help you be calm and collected when  you actually read in front of everyone.
• Dress appropriately. What you wear says something to others, so think about what you are saying through what you’re wearing. Most tattoos are fine, but those depicting anything inappropriate (sexual, demonic, violent, etc), will need to be covered, or else another reader chosen. We respect everyone's right to free expression, and just the same we expect our right to proper Catholic worship in our house to be respected.
• Please dispose of your chewing gum before Mass!
• If you have any questions about pronunciation or what to do, please ask the celebrating priest.

     This is the last of the three funeral rites and is the last act of the community of faith in caring for the body of her deceased members. This rite is usually celebrated at the place of burial and is led by a priest, deacon or lay minister. A casket or urn is then buried. It is not required to be buried in a specifically Catholic cemetery, although that is preferred since the grounds have been specifically consecrated for that purpose. 

     Cremation was only recently permitted in the Catholic Church. However, it is still preferred that cremation take place after the funeral rites with the body present. It is important to note that cremated remains should always be treated with the same great respect given to the human body. Therefore the Church is very clear regarding cremated remains:

• Do not scatter cremated remains;
• Do not divide cremated remains;
• Do not keep cremated remains at home.

"Witnessed by simple men and women, the Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth confirmed the hope deep in the human heart that we will not be extinguished after death, that there is an eternal future for both our body and our soul. Jesus’ unique human claim about the resurrection of the body is the truth that underlies all of the Church’s teachings on cremation. Because Christ has shown us this human destiny in Him, it is fitting that the Church requires that the deceased body be treated with prayerful reverence and great dignity in recognition of its glorious future."