Funerals/Bereavement Ministry

Bereavement Ministry at Our Lady of the Assumption

The Bereavement Ministry is made up of members from our church community who have volunteered to help plan and explain the different Christian Funeral rites. When a funeral home or family contacts the church, a bereavement minister is contacted to reach out to help support the family for planning of the different funeral rites. 

Schedule a Funeral Service: Our Lady of the Assumption Church 805-642-7966 

• If you are using a funeral home, let the funeral home contact the church for you. Give them a couple of different dates and times for the church to check for availability. If there is a specific Priest or Deacon you want to assist in the rites have the Home pass that along to the front office. 
• If the family is making all the arrangements, contact the front office. Have a couple of different dates and times for the church to check for availability, include the names of specific Priest or Deacon you want to assist in the rites. 

What are the different Christian Funeral Rites? 

There are three principal rites, “The Vigil and related prayers”, “Funeral Liturgy” and “Rite of Committal with Final Commendation”. The Funeral Rites and are found in the “ORDER OF CHRISTIAN FUNERALS, with CREMATION RITE.” 

1. Funeral Rites:

a.  Vigil and Related Rites and Prayers: The Vigil is one of the principal celebrations of the Christian community and may be celebrated between the time of death and the funeral liturgy, or if there is no funeral liturgy, it may be celebrated before the rite of committal. 

i.   If a family decides they would like to have a vigil the bereavement minister notifies the Parish business office (information center) of the request. The Business office will find a minister to perform the service. The Funeral Home may also make this request. If you do not hear back from the business office in a timely matter, please follow up. 

ii.  The minister presiding over the vigil will work with the bereavement minister and the family for the format of Vigil, prayers and liturgy of the Word. 

b.  Funeral Mass: 

i.  The funeral liturgy (Mass) is the central liturgical celebration of the Christian community when one of its members dies. The Church encourages the celebration of the Mass (OCF 128). The community gathers with the family and friends of the deceased to give praise to God for Christ’s victory over sin and death, and to commend the deceased to God’s tender mercy and compassion and to seek strength in the proclamation of the Paschal mystery (OCF 129). We give thanks to God for the gift of the deceased life that was shared with us.   

ii. At the Mass, the Body is present either in a casket or urn. If the Body cannot be present or the Mass is celebrated on the anniversary of a death, it is a Memorial Mass rather than a Funeral Mass. 

iii. In the vestibule of the church before the procession the white pall is placed over the casket as a symbol of the deceased’s baptism in Christ. Veterans and First Responders often will have the American Flay draped on the casket when brought to the church. In the vestibule the flag is removed and folded and the pall is placed over the casket. At the recessional when the casket enters the vestibule the pall is removed and the flag is placed back over the casket. 

1. Honor guards normally do the honors at graveside; there might be occasions when the deceased is not immediately interned then the Honor’s ceremony will take place outside the church. 

c. Gravesides – Rite of Committal 

i.  As Christians we believe that the body is sacred and should be handled with dignity even after the soul has left it. We believe that our glorified souls will be reunited with our body at the final resurrection. (CCC 366, 997,1005). Because the body is sacred, treating it with dignity means interning it in a sacred place and in a suitable vessel, i.e.; casket or urn. 

ii.  The church encourages burial in the blessed ground of a Catholic cemetery. If internment is not done at a catholic cemetery, then the  ground, mausoleum or columbarium is blessed. Burial at sea is permitted if done in the proper vessel. 

Cremation: 

• The Family of the deceased or if it was the deceased wishes to have their remains cremated is acceptable if the reasons for cremation were not in opposition of the Christian faith. (OCF 426a, canon 1176 § 3) 
• It is preferred, if possible, that the body be present for the vigil and mass before cremation. It is also permitted to have Funeral Liturgy, including Mass, in the presence of the cremated remains of the body.   
• The ashes of the deceased should be in a worthy vessel and handled with dignity. Plans for proper internment should be made. Because of the dignity of the Body and the belief of the reunion of the Soul with the body, ashes should not be divided up or scattered. 

The bereavement ministers are there to support the grieving family and friends following the death of their loved one. The ministers assist with planning funeral services: Vigil, Funeral Mass, & graveside service. This includes explaining the different funeral rites, planning and attending the Mass. Specific assistance will be directed to the selection of scripture reading, certain prayers, and the opportunity for participation in the different liturgies. Music is very important and is arranged by a funeral music minister. 

Our Lady of the Assumption Grief Support group is ministered by Ken Lynch. They meet alternating Saturdays. For more information please contact Ken Lynch via email – kenlynch123@aol.com or through the bereavement ministry (805) 642-7966 ext.174.
email:  bereavement@ola-vta.org

The bereavement ministry is a small group of ministers who offer their time and special gifts to those who have experienced the loss of their loved one. They offer sympathy, prayers, and support in planning different funeral rites. Some of our ministers have over 25 years of experience in serving our parish. It is a ministry that inspires growth in one’s faith. Please consider being a part of our ministry, we will walk with you in discernment and training. To find out more about the Bereavement Ministry please visit the parish website and fill out the volunteer submission form or email bereavement at bereavement@ola-vta.org or call us at (805) 642-7966 ext.174.