Funerals

On behalf of the Parish Community of St. Anthony's Croatian Catholic Church, we would like to extend our deepest sympathy at the loss of your loved one.
 

Christ lives and is conqueror of Death!

Please know that we are here to help you and support you during this difficult time. 

Listed below is information that is helpful in making  arrangements, as well as providing the parish with necessary information.
 

Your first step in planning a Funeral is to contact  a mortuary. Click here to locate catholic mortuaries and cemeteries.

Notify our parish office or don Ivan.

Set a date and time.

Complete the Register of Deceased and email to [email protected]. 

Please know that we encourage members of the family to consider being involved in the liturgy, so we will ask if you have some members of the family to assist with the following:

• One or two people willing to proclaim the Scripture readings (if not, we will provide a Lector to read)
• Two people to bring up the offertory gifts (if you have a Mass)
• If there is a person, who will be sharing Words of Remembrance?

For every funeral, the Readings necessary are as follows:

1. First reading must be from the Old Testament
 2. Psalm.
 3. Second Reading from the New Testaments.
 4. Gospel Reading is chosen by the priest

The readings (and the entire Mass) can be in Croatian or English or Bilingual.

Rosary

Recitation of the rosary at our Parish is usually held before the Funeral, and usually lasts 20 minutes. It may be led by a family member or, if desired, by the Priest.
It can be prayed in Croatian or in English. 
When the Rosary is said at a funeral service it is considered an intercessory prayer which asks for the Blessed Virgin Mary's intercession with God, so that the deceased may have eternal rest with Him forever.  
This service is open to anyone wishing to pray together for the deceased or you may choose to attend and silently sit or kneel while those gathered recite the words of the prayers together.
 

Music

The parish does not provide an organist, soloist or musicians for the funeral.   Please call the parish office for a current list of suggested professionals.  Because of the sacredness of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, secular instrumental or vocal music, or the use of recorded music of any kind may not be used.

Altar Severs

St. Anthony's does not provide Altar Servers. If you have a family member or a friend who is an altar server, they are welcome to serve at the Mass.

Offertory Procession 

Usually 2-4 people to needed to carry forward the bread, wine and vessels. If children are selected, please include at least one adult to help guide them.

Words of Remembrance

Words of Remembrance, briefly describing the ways in which the deceased demonstrated his or her Christian values, are sometimes offered at the Funeral celebration.
If they choose, the family is asked to select only ONE person and they are asked to be brief. No more than two pages or 10 minutes are permitted. Please speak with the priest about offering words of remembrance.

Visiting priest

We are aware that many of our parishioners are also members of their own local parishes, and so their local Pastor or Priest that is family friend is welcome to con/celebrate with don Ivan. We ask that you please discuss this matter with us beforehand - if you do not do so, according Archdiocesan bylaws, don Ivan should not allow visiting priest to con/celebrate!

Cremation in the Catholic Funeral Rite

The Church prefers and urges that the body of the deceased be present for the funeral rites. The long-standing practice of burying the body in a grave or tomb in imitation of the burial of Jesus’ body is encouraged as a sign of our Christian faith. When the choice has been made to cremate a body, it is recommended that the cremation take place after the Funeral.

The cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they came. This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the cremains, the manner in which they are carried, and the final disposition. The cremated remains should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium. The practice of scattering cremains is not the reverent disposition the Church requires. If cremated remains are brought to the church for the Funeral Rite, a small table or stand is prepared at the place normally occupied by the casket. The vessel may be carried to its place during the entrance procession or may be placed on the table or stand before the liturgy begins. It is also customary to have a small vase of flowers and an 8 1/2” x 11” framed image on the table near the cremains.

Flowers

Funeral flowers should be removed by the mortuary, host, family and/or friends of the deceased. If you would like to donate flowers to the Church fo Sunday mass, please contact our florist Darling's Flowers to set up floral delivery for the altar. Unfortunately, we will not be able to accommodate funeral flower donations.

Click here for Funeral readings in English. 

See below for Funeral readings in Croatian.