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The Prayer And Worship Office: Funeral Rite Guidelines - Deacons

I.   INTRODUCTION   The Order of Christian Funerals celebrates the Church’s faith in the crucified and risen Jesus and the believer’s share in that victory over death.  It also marks the end of the believer’s life on earth, and gives thanks for that life.   The life of a Deacon influences his family, the local parish and the diocesan church.  The celebration of his passing from human life needs to be ritualized and celebrated.  Those responsible for planning these ritual moments must take into consideration the rites of the Church as found in the Order of Christian Funerals as well as the appropriate needs and customs of the family and parish.   Part I of the Order of Christian Funerals is divided into three groups of rites that correspond to the three principal ritual moments in the funerals of Christians:  Vigil and Related Rites and Prayers, Funeral Liturgy, and Rite of Committal.  The minister, in consultation with those concerned, chooses from within these three groups of rites, the options that best correspond to the particular needs and customs of the mourners (OCF 50).  These guidelines have been prepared to assist in that task. A similar, supplemental document has been prepared for pre-planning the funeral of a deacon’s wife.   II.  PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW AT THE TIME OF DEATH   1.  Call the Bishop to inform him of the death of the deacon and to consult with the Bishop’s calendar to determine the time of the Funeral Mass so that he may be present if possible.                             Office 518.453.6611                          Residence 518.462.3804 One of the following Directors of the Diaconate should also be called.  They will initiate communication within the deacon community.                             Deacon Tim McAuliffe      518.869.0454     McAwful44@aol.com                             Deacon Frank Lukovits     518.766.5135     FLUKO@taconic.net                             Deacon Neil Hook            518.869.0602     DeaconJNH@verizon.net 2.  Obtain the pre-arrangement form from the appropriate source (Family/Executor, Deacon Office, Personnel file) prior to any planning.  The sample form is included as an insert in this document.   3.  Family members, parish priests/deacons, parish life director, liturgy team, musicians would be consulted in planning the funeral rites.  It would be helpful to involve the homilist(s) designated for the various rites as well.   The Office of Prayer and Worship (518.453.6645), Elizabeth Simcoe, director (home 518.489.1508), will be at the service of the parish for any plans and consultation needed.   4.  At the meeting with the funeral director the following should occur:  -      Provide the funeral director with a copy of the deacon’s Funeral Instructions, if not  already available to them. -      Discuss availability of a casket with a removable cover, or simple wooden box, the  option of cremation after the Funeral Mass, etc. -      Identify who might direct the vesting of the deceased, if necessary. The deacon is  vested in alb and stole; ordinarily, the vestments are white. -      Provide information for the obituary from the Funeral Instructions. -      Arrange for memorial cards to be available for the various gatherings and services.   The Office of the Diaconate will assist with coordinating this.

III.  THE FUNERAL RITES   A.     VIGIL AND RELATED RITES AND PRAYERS   For All Services -      The pastor, or another priest/deacon who is designated ordinarily presides. -      Lay ministers/family members may assist with music, readings and reflections on  the life of the deceased. -      It will be helpful to include the times of services in the death notice so that those  who are interested in attending may do so.   Vigil for the Deceased -      The body of the deacon may be waked in a funeral home (Order of Christian  Funerals, §69-81) or a church (Order of Christian Funerals, §82-97.) -      The rite consists of hymns/psalms, readings, homily, prayers, intercessions (Order  of Christian Funerals, §51-68). -      If the deacon will be waked in the church, the rites begin with the Vigil for the  Deceased and Reception of the Body at the Church.   The Celebration of Evening Prayer from the Office of the Dead -      The celebration typically occurs at the conclusion of viewing hours and concludes  the wake.   Celebration of the Eucharist In extraordinary situations, to accommodate the needs of the parish, a community might desire to celebrate a Eucharistic liturgy, in addition to the Funeral Mass. In preparing for this celebration, consideration should be given to the time best suited for the parish to come together. At this Mass, as well as the Funeral Mass, the appropriate roles of liturgical ministry should be respected.  (GIRM §58-73). The coffin should be closed for this celebration and covered with the pall, without ceremony.   B.  THE FUNERAL MASS Prior to the Funeral Mass, Morning Prayer may take place.  The casket is closed.  The pall is placed and the Christian symbols (Book of the Gospels, crucifix) may be placed on the pall at this time or as part of the Funeral Mass. -      The Funeral Mass is celebrated with the diocesan bishop, concelebrated with  members of the presbyterate and assisted by deacons. Up to eight principal  concelebrants may be chosen to be at the altar if the size of the sanctuary permits.  Either one or two deacons (Word/Eucharist) may assist. Care should be taken to  include the family members and friends in the liturgy, inviting them to participate in  the ministries, wherever appropriate and to the degree that they are able (OCF  §144). -      The members of the presbyterate are seated in the body of the church in such a  way that does not obscure the vision of the assembly. If the design of the church  does not provide clear vision to the assembly, the Deacon of the Eucharist will invite  the assembly to remain standing following the “Holy, Holy” for the Eucharistic  Prayer. -      The deacons who are present may vest.  When vested, deacons sit together as the  Order of Deacons.  (BCL Newsletter, July-Aug. 1982) and their wives may be seated  in a nearby section.  Vested deacons are not to serve as pall bearers. -      In choosing the prayers, those preparing the celebration should note the special  prayers for deceased deacons (OCF §20-21 “Prayers and Texts in Particular  Circumstances”) or those in the Sacramentary pp. 973. -      While taking into consideration the personal history of the deacon, the homilist is to  dwell on God’s compassionate love and on the Paschal Mystery of the Lord, as  proclaimed in the scriptures.  The homily is not to be a eulogy (OCF §27).  It is best  when the homilist is involved in the initial planning of the funeral rites. -      The Liturgy of the Eucharist takes place in the usual manner at the funeral Mass.  At the conclusion of the funeral liturgy, the rite of final commendation and farewell is  celebrated, usually led by the Bishop.  The body is incensed during the Song of  Farewell. -      If the cemetery is nearby, as many as possible go there in the funeral procession  and take part in the Rite of Committal.  The pastor or another designated  priest/deacon presides at the rite. -      In a spirit of hospitality, those who have participated in the funeral Mass and  Committal may be invited to participate in a simple meal following the celebration.

IV.  ADDENDUM   1.   The circumstances of an individual will dictate the location of the funeral rites: -     A retired deacon may be buried from the church he last served, where he last resided or another as pre-arranged. -     An active deacon is normally buried from the church where he is serving.   2.  The Order of Christian Funerals allows three opportunities for individuals to offer reflections on the life of the deceased:  -     the Vigil for the Deceased (wake service) or Vigil for the Deceased with Reception of the Body at the Church, -     following the Prayer After Communion during the Funeral Mass and -     at the Rite of Committal.     It is most appropriate to invite this reflection at the Vigil for the Deceased because of its more intimate setting and the greater amount of time available for telling the story of the deacon’s life and ministry.  If the family desires to have a reflection on the life of the deacon, following the Prayer after Communion during Mass, out of consideration for the mourners, only one person should speak and for no more than three minutes.   3.   A grave space or mausoleum crypt will be provided to deacons of the diocese free of charge at any cemetery managed by the Diocese.  Interment charges are waived.  If a deacon wishes to purchase a plot with his family, one grave space within that plot will be provided at no charge.  Additional grave spaces within that plot for the Deacon’s immediate family members are discounted 25%. ( Albany Diocesan Cemetery Office, 518.432.4953)   4.   Parishes and communities are encouraged to pray for their deceased members always, but especially on the anniversary of a deacon’s death, as published in the diocesan ordo.   5.   At the time of a celebration of funeral rites, the main entrance of the church may be decorated with floral arrangements (except during Lent) or bunting to show to the wider community that the congregation is mourning.

Funeral Instructions for a Deacon of the Church