Funeral Information

“Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this is to see what you believe.”

-Saint Augustine

The Order of a Christian Burial

“The Christian funeral is a liturgical celebration of the Church. The ministry of the Church in this instance aims at expressing efficacious communion with the deceased, at the participation in that communion of the community gathered for the funeral, and at the proclamation of eternal life to the community.” (CCC #1684)

The Order of Christian Funerals is designed to remember the deceased in a loving and dignified way. There are three parts to a Christian Funeral:

1. The Vigil
2. The Funeral Mass
3. The Rite of Committal/Burial

The Vigil is a time of acceptance of the end of the loved one’s earthly life, while remembering them amongst community.
It consists of a time to gather with friends and family, typically at a funeral home or church. During the Vigil, there will be readings from Sacred Scripture, prayers for the deceased, and an appropriate setting for sharing in remembrance of the deceased.

At the Funeral Mass, we pray for the repose of the soul of our loved one, our own consolation, and in thanksgiving to God for the gift of this life.
The Funeral Mass consists of the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The celebrant shares a few remarks on the life of the deceased while focusing on the readings of the liturgy, God’s compassionate love and the Paschal mystery (Jesus’ death and resurrection). During the Mass, one friend or family member can have the opportunity to share briefly in remembrance about the deceased.

The Rite of Committal/ Burial is considered the final act of caring by the community for the deceased and their body. This is a time of farewell and hope. This is when individuals come to realize in a more meaningful way that the bonds of affection forged in this life are not broken by death. The Rite of Committal takes place at the gravesite after the funeral Mass.

Notes on Cremation

The Order of Christian Funerals, teaches us how important it is to keep in mind the dignity of the loved one, and the respect due to their mortal remains.  1 Corinthians 6:19 says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” Our bodies are a gift that the Lord has given to us to cherish and take care of, including those of our loved ones. In knowing this, it helps one understand why cremation is not necessarily the first choice for the deceased. The Church realizes, though, that funerals can be quite expensive, so some may chose cremation.
If cremation does take place, the remains are to be honored properly, in a way similar to the reverence given to the body. This means that scattering, mixing, or separating the remains is prohibited in the Catholic tradition. The remains should be placed in a cemetery, columbarium, or some other reverent and proper place. It is important to not display the remains, for example, on a living room mantle, because the remains were a person, and deserve the memorial of a special place. It is natural for family and friends to visit a specific place in order to honor and remember a deceased loved one.

Funeral Homes in our area:

• Corey-Kerlin Funeral Home, 940 Cesery Blvd. Jacksonville, FL  904-744-8422

• Corey-Kerlin Funeral Home, 1426 Rowe Ave. Jacksonville, FL  904-768-2598

• Hardage Giddens Oaklawn Cemetery, 4801San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL  904-737-7171

• Quinn Shalz Funeral Home, 3600 Third Street S, Jacksonville Beach, FL  904-249-1100

Cemeteries in our area:

• For Catholic Cemeteries and Columbaria:  CLICK HERE

• Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Road, Jacksonville, FL 904-766-5222

• Evergreen Cemetery, 4535 N Main Street, Jacksonville, FL 904-660-0617

• Ponte Vedra, Palm Valley Cemetery, 4750 Palm Valley Rd. Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 904-285-1130

• Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 904-737-7171

• Hardage-Giddens Greenlawn Cemetery, 4300 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 904-396-2522

 

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The Funeral Mass

Music at Funeral Mass:
An Accompanist and Cantor are provided for all Funeral Masses. Any additional arrangements need to be approved. 
For a list of music selections, please click here.

Liturgy at Funeral Mass:
  For a list of First Readings, please click here.
  For a list of Responsorial Psalms, please click here. (This is sung by the Cantor.)
  For a list of Second Readings, please click here.

Questions about music and liturgy for funerals? Email Lindsey at music@holyfamilyjax.com for a funeral planning guide.
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Remembering a Loved One:

To request a Mass intention for a loved one, please call our front office at (904) 641-5838

It is our hope at Holy Family to assist you in any way we can during times of loss. As you prepare for a Catholic Funeral Mass, it is important to remember that you are not alone. Interested in talking to others about coping with the loss of a loved one? Join our support group called grief share.