The Catholic Funeral Program: A Complete Guide for Families

A Catholic funeral follows a shape that has been prayed for generations, and the program is there to help everyone in the church follow it – including friends and relatives who are not Catholic, or who have not been to Mass in a long time. Families often worry about getting it "wrong." The reassuring news is that you do not have to design the liturgy; the Church provides it, and the parish priest, deacon or bereavement coordinator will help you make the choices that are yours to make. Your job is to record those choices clearly and lovingly on paper.

This guide explains the parts of a Catholic funeral, the choices families typically make, how to lay them out in a program, wording examples for the cover and back page, and the questions to ask the parish before you print. It is written mainly for the Roman Catholic Funeral Mass, often called the Mass of Christian Burial, as celebrated in English-speaking countries. Local customs vary, and your parish's guidance always takes precedence.

The three stages of a Catholic funeral

The Church's funeral rites, set out in the *Order of Christian Funerals*, have three main stages. Families sometimes print a separate program for each, or one program covering the Mass with the other details on the back.

1. The Vigil for the Deceased. Often held the evening before the funeral, at the funeral home or the church. It may be a Liturgy of the Word with readings and prayers, and in many families it includes the Rosary. This is often the setting where family and friends share stories and, in many parishes, the best place for longer eulogies.
2. The Funeral Liturgy. Usually a Funeral Mass. Sometimes, for pastoral reasons, a Funeral Liturgy outside Mass is celebrated instead, without the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
3. The Rite of Committal. At the graveside, mausoleum or columbarium, a short rite of final farewell.

Most families make one program for the Funeral Mass. If there is a vigil with a printed Rosary or prayers, a simple card or a separate sheet is often enough.

The order of the Funeral Mass

The structure below is the typical order of a Funeral Mass. Your parish will confirm exactly what is included, but knowing the names of the parts will help you talk with the priest and lay out the program.

Introductory Rites

• Greeting of the body at the church door by the priest
• Sprinkling with holy water, recalling baptism
• Placing of the pall, a white cloth over the casket (sometimes with Christian symbols such as a Bible or cross placed on it)
• Entrance Procession with an entrance hymn
• Collect (the Opening Prayer)

Liturgy of the Word

• First Reading, usually from the Old Testament
• Responsorial Psalm, often sung
• Second Reading, from the New Testament
• Gospel Acclamation (the Alleluia, or another acclamation during Lent)
• Gospel
• Homily
• Universal Prayer (Prayer of the Faithful), sometimes read by family members

Liturgy of the Eucharist

• Presentation of the Gifts, often brought forward by family members, with a hymn
• Eucharistic Prayer
• The Lord's Prayer
• Sign of Peace
• Holy Communion, with a Communion hymn

Final Commendation and Farewell

• Words of Remembrance (if permitted by the parish – see below)
• Invitation to Prayer
• Silence
• Sprinkling with holy water and incensation of the body
• Song of Farewell
• Prayer of Commendation

Procession to the Place of Committal

• Recessional hymn as the casket leaves the church

The choices that belong to the family

Within this structure, the family usually chooses, with the help of the parish:

• The readings: one from the Old Testament, a Responsorial Psalm, one from the New Testament and a Gospel
• The readers (lectors) for the first and second readings
• Who will read the Universal Prayer, and sometimes the text of the intentions
• Who will bring up the gifts of bread and wine
• Who will place the pall or the Christian symbols on the casket
• Hymns and music, from the options the parish allows
• Whether there will be words of remembrance, and who will give them
• The pallbearers

The priest will usually choose or confirm the Gospel and will give the homily. Some parishes give families a booklet listing the approved readings with their full text; others send a link or arrange a planning meeting.

Choosing readings

The *Order of Christian Funerals* offers a list of approved readings for funerals. Commonly chosen readings include those below. Ask the parish for the full list, as there are several more, and some are specific to the funeral of a child.

Old Testament

• Wisdom 3:1–9 ("The souls of the just are in the hand of God")
• Isaiah 25:6a, 7–9 ("He will destroy death forever")
• Lamentations 3:17–26 ("It is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the Lord")
• Job 19:1, 23–27 ("I know that my Redeemer lives")
• 2 Maccabees 12:43–46
• Daniel 12:1–3

During the Easter season, the first reading may be taken from the Book of Revelation instead.

Responsorial Psalms

• Psalm 23 ("The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want")
• Psalm 25
• Psalm 27 ("The Lord is my light and my salvation")
• Psalm 42 and 43 ("My soul is thirsting for the living God")
• Psalm 63 ("My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God")
• Psalm 103 ("The Lord is kind and merciful")
• Psalm 116
• Psalm 122 ("I rejoiced when I heard them say: let us go to the house of the Lord")
• Psalm 130 ("Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord")

New Testament

• Romans 5:5–11, 5:17–21, 6:3–9, 8:14–23, 8:31b–35, 37–39, 14:7–9, 10c–12
• 1 Corinthians 15:20–28 or 15:51–57
• 2 Corinthians 4:14–5:1 or 5:1, 6–10
• Philippians 3:20–21
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
• 2 Timothy 2:8–13
• 1 John 3:1–2 or 3:14–16
• Revelation 14:13; 20:11–21:1; 21:1–5a, 6b–7

Gospel

• Matthew 5:1–12a (the Beatitudes)
• Matthew 11:25–30 ("Come to me, all you who labor")
• Matthew 25:1–13 or 25:31–46
• Luke 7:11–17, 12:35–40, 23:33, 39–43 ("Today you will be with me in Paradise"), 24:13–35 (the road to Emmaus)
• John 6:37–40, 11:17–27 or 11:32–45 (the raising of Lazarus), 12:23–28, 14:1–6 ("In my Father's house there are many dwelling places"), 17:24–26, 19:17–18, 25–39

When choosing, families often think about what the person loved, what they said about faith, or a passage read at their wedding or their parents' funerals. If they had a favourite psalm, that is a natural choice for the Responsorial Psalm.

Printing readings: citation only, or full text?

There are two common approaches:

• Citation only. The program lists "First Reading – Wisdom 3:1–9 – read by Anne Murphy." This is compact and fits easily on a four-page program. Guests listen rather than read along.
• Full text. The program prints the readings in full, sometimes with the Responsorial Psalm response in bold so the congregation can join in. This needs an eight-page booklet and you must use the translation approved for liturgical use in your country, which the parish can provide.

For most families, citations plus the psalm response are the best balance. The response is the one thing the congregation says aloud, so printing it is genuinely helpful.

Hymns and music

Parishes usually provide a list of suitable hymns, and the music director or cantor will help. Hymns chosen often at Catholic funerals in the US and UK include "Be Not Afraid," "On Eagle's Wings," "Here I Am, Lord," "Amazing Grace," "The Lord's My Shepherd," "Ave Maria," "Lord of All Hopefulness" and "Abide with Me," among many others. A Song of Farewell is sung at the final commendation.

A note on copyright. Many popular modern hymns are under copyright, and printing their lyrics in a program generally requires a license. Parishes in the US and UK commonly hold a license that covers reprinting in worship aids, and will tell you how to include the required acknowledgement line. If you plan to print lyrics, ask the parish first. Listing hymn titles is always fine.

Words of remembrance (the eulogy)

This is the question families most often ask. In Catholic practice, the homily is not a eulogy; it is a reflection on the scriptures and the hope of resurrection, connected to the person's life. A family member or friend may be invited to speak words of remembrance, but practices vary between dioceses and parishes:

• Some parishes allow a brief remembrance before the Final Commendation, often with a suggested length of a few minutes
• Some prefer remembrances at the Vigil, at the funeral home, or at the reception
• Some ask that the text be shared with the priest beforehand

Ask early so the program reflects what will actually happen. If remembrances will take place at the reception instead, you can say so on the back page. Our guide on how to write a eulogy can help whoever is speaking.

Laying out a four-page Catholic funeral program

Cover (page 1)

• A heading: "Mass of Christian Burial," "Funeral Mass," "In Loving Memory" or "A Celebration of the Life of"
• A photo, a cross, or a religious image (many families use an image of Christ, the Blessed Mother or a patron saint)
• Full name, sometimes including a confirmation name or religious title
• Dates of birth and death
• Date, time and church name
• Optionally, a short verse

Inside left (page 2)

Either the life story, or the first half of the Mass (Introductory Rites and Liturgy of the Word), depending on how much you are including.

Inside right (page 3)

The order of the Mass, with readings, readers, hymns and who is bringing up the gifts. A compact layout:

Entrance Hymn – "Be Not Afraid"

First Reading – Wisdom 3:1–9 – Anne Murphy, daughter

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 23 – "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want"

Second Reading – Romans 8:31b–35, 37–39 – Michael Murphy, grandson

Gospel – John 14:1–6

Homily – Fr. Thomas Byrne

Universal Prayer – the grandchildren

Presentation of the Gifts – Clare and Joseph Murphy

Communion Hymn – "Here I Am, Lord"

Final Commendation – Song of Farewell

Recessional Hymn – "Lord of All Hopefulness"

Back (page 4)

• A prayer: many families print the traditional prayer "Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen," adjusted to "him" or "her"
• Celebrant and concelebrants, music director, cantor
• Pallbearers
• Place of interment (the cemetery) and whether the committal is private
• Reception details
• An acknowledgement from the family, and any request for Mass intentions or charitable donations

If you need more space for the life story, consider an eight-page booklet or a separate one-page obituary insert. Our Catholic funeral Mass program template is set up for exactly this layout.

Wording examples

Cover headings

• Mass of Christian Burial for Margaret Anne Murphy
• Funeral Mass in Thanksgiving for the Life of Joseph Patrick Byrne
• In Loving Memory of Rosa Maria Hernández
• Celebrating the Life of John Michael Kelly – A Mass of Christian Burial

Short verses for the cover or back

• "I am the resurrection and the life." (John 11:25)
• "In my Father's house there are many dwelling places." (John 14:2)
• "The souls of the just are in the hand of God." (Wisdom 3:1)

Use the translation your parish uses. For more, see Bible verses for funeral programs.

Acknowledgements

• "The family of Margaret Murphy thank Fr. Byrne and the parish of St. Brigid for their prayers and kindness, and all who have supported us with their presence, cards and Mass offerings."
• "Mass intentions for the repose of Joseph's soul may be arranged at the parish office."
• "In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society."

Prayer cards

Prayer cards are a long-standing Catholic tradition: a small card with a holy image on the front and the person's name, dates and a prayer on the back. Many families give them out at the vigil or at the church door, and they are often kept in missals and prayer books for years. Common prayers include the Eternal Rest prayer, the Memorare, a Prayer of St. Francis or the Divine Mercy prayer. See prayer card wording for examples, and our funeral prayer cards page for matching designs.

A simple program for the Vigil or Rosary

If the vigil includes the Rosary or a Liturgy of the Word, a small printed sheet or card helps people who do not know the prayers by heart. Keep it short and practical:

• The person's name and dates, and the time and place of the vigil
• The order: opening song, greeting, opening prayer, a reading, a psalm, a Gospel, a brief homily or reflection, intercessions, the Lord's Prayer, a concluding prayer
• If the Rosary is prayed, the mysteries for the evening and the words of the Hail Mary, Glory Be and Hail, Holy Queen for those who need them
• A note on whether family and friends will be invited to share memories

A 5×7 card or a single folded sheet in the same design as the Mass program ties the two days together. Some families use the back of the vigil card for the Mass details, so guests attending both know where to go the next morning.

Cremation and the Catholic funeral

The Church permits cremation, while expressing a preference that the body be present for the Funeral Mass, with cremation afterwards. Where cremation has already taken place, the Funeral Mass may be celebrated with the cremated remains present, and the parish will advise on the rites to use. For the program, the wording usually changes only slightly – the Rite of Committal will name the cemetery, mausoleum or columbarium where the remains will be interred. The Church asks that cremated remains be laid to rest in a sacred place rather than scattered or kept at home, so if you are unsure what to print about the committal, ask the parish.

Questions to ask the parish before printing

• Is it a Funeral Mass or a Funeral Liturgy outside Mass?
• Which readings are available, and does the priest choose the Gospel?
• What translation should be printed if we include scripture text?
• Which hymns are allowed, and who is the cantor or music director?
• Can we print hymn lyrics, and what acknowledgement line is needed?
• Are words of remembrance permitted at the Mass, and for how long?
• Who should be named as celebrant, and are other priests or deacons concelebrating?
• Will the parish distribute the programs, or should the family bring someone to hand them out?
• When does the parish need the final details?

Common mistakes in Catholic funeral programs

• Listing a eulogy in the program when the parish places remembrances at the vigil or reception
• Printing copyrighted hymn lyrics without the parish's license line
• Using a Bible translation different from the one read at the Mass
• Misspelling the celebrant's name or title (Father, Monsignor, Deacon)
• Calling the Universal Prayer or the Final Commendation by names the congregation will not recognise, without explanation – a short label like "Final Commendation and Farewell" is clear enough
• Forgetting to confirm whether the committal is open to all or private

Frequently asked questions

What is a Mass of Christian Burial?

It is another name for the Catholic Funeral Mass – the celebration of the Eucharist for the person who has died, with the body (or, in many places, cremated remains) present.

Can non-Catholics take part?

Yes, they are welcome to attend and pray. Customs around receiving Communion vary, and many parishes include a brief note in the program or an announcement from the priest explaining them.

Can a funeral program include a photo?

Yes. A photo on the cover is common in Catholic programs. Many families also include a religious image.

How long is a Catholic funeral Mass?

Typically around an hour, depending on music, the number of communicants and whether words of remembrance are included.

Making the program

Our Catholic Mass theme lays out the cover, the order of the Mass and the back page in a style familiar to parishes, and the matching prayer card is included in the memorial bundle ($9.99, see pricing). The preview is free; share it with the parish office to confirm the details before you print.