Funerals are among the most important and challenging liturgies that take place within the parish. These liturgies often bring people and sometimes families together from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. Sacred music has an integral role in the funeral liturgy. In times of grief and sorrow, it allows the community to express convictions and feelings that words alone may fail to convey....expressions of our faith, our hopes, and beliefs. Music has the power to console and give comfort, to uplift the mourners, and to strengthen the unity of the assembly in faith and love. Whether planning the Funeral liturgy of a loved one or pre-planning your own, the music you select can say a lot about what you, your family and loved ones believe. Secular music, even though it may reflect on the background, character, interests, or personal preferences of the deceased or mourners, is not appropriate for a Mass of Christian Burial. We hope that the guideline below will serve to help you select music that can provide comfort and strength to the families and friends of the deceased.

Once the Parish office is notified of a funeral by a funeral home, the Parish office will arrange for the Director of the Music Ministry to contact the designated member of the family of the deceased to discuss the musical needs of the family for the Mass of Christian Burial. He will also arrange for a cantor to lead the singing during the Mass. Stipends for the musicians are set by the parish and will be addressed when the family makes arrangements with the funeral directors.

In the funeral liturgy, these are the opportunities for hymns:

1. Entrance Song (when we enter the church)
2. Song at the Presentation of the Gifts
3. Song during Communion
4. Closing Song (when we recess to the rear of the church)

We offer these additional suggestions for your consideration. The placement of the music is usually best left to the discretion and experience of the Parish Music Director.

These are the most commonly selected hymns for funeral Masses:

Amazing Grace
Be Not Afraid
How Great Thou Art
I Am the Bread of Life
On Eagle's Wings
Prayer of St. Francis

Other appropriate hymns for funeral Masses include:

All (It) Is Well with My Soul
Ave Maria
Be Still and Know that I Am God
Eternal Father, Strong to Save (Military)
Eye Has Not Seen
Gift of Finest Wheat
Go in Peace
Have Faith in Me
Hosea
I Know that My Redeemer Lives (Soper)
In Christ Alone
O Shepherd Lord (Londonderry)
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Shall We Gather at the River
Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling
Where My Father Lives
You Are the Light I Seek

If you are pre-planning your funeral for a time in the future, you are welcome to call the Parish Music Director to discuss any or all aspect(s) of the Mass of Christian Burial.