Funerals

In the face of death, the Church confidently proclaims that God has created each person for eternal life and that Jesus, the Son of God, by his death and resurrection, has broken the chains of sin and death that bound humanity.

At the death of a Christian, whose life of faith was begun in the waters of baptism and strengthened at the Eucharistic table, the Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased because of its confident belief that death is not the end nor does it break the bonds forged in life. The Church also ministers to the sorrowing and consoles them in the funeral rites with the comforting word of God and the sacrament of the Eucharist.

The celebration of the Christian funeral brings hope and consolation to the living. While proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and witnessing to Christian hope in the resurrection, the funeral rites also recall to all who take part in them God's mercy and judgement and meet the human need to turn always to God in times of crisis.

St. Mary's has produced pamphlets about the Funeral Liturgy and Organ Donation.

Memorial Lamps:

The Memorial Lamp is a candle lit in the church in memory of loved ones. Each week, it is lit for a parishioner or the loved one of a parishioner. The individual for whom the Memorial Lamp is lit is posted each week in the bulletin. For more information or to request the lamp be lit for someone you know, contact the parish office.

Mass Intentions:

​Masses can also be offered in memory of a deceased love one. The individual for whom a Mass is offered is posted each week in the bulletin and can be announced at the specific Mass. For more information or to request a Mass for someone you know, contact the parish office.

​Bereavment:

The Bereavement Committee provides support to those grieving the loss of a loved one. For more information, contact Valerie Keenan at 705-728-2985.​ More information is here.