Funerals
"Life is changed, not ended." (The Roman Missal)
Losing someone you love is one of the most difficult experiences you can face. Let us walk with you.
​
​"In Him the hope of blessed resurrection has dawned, that those saddened by the certainty of dying might be consoled by the promise of immortality to come. Indeed for your faithful, Lord, life is changed not ended, and, when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling is made ready for them in heaven." (Preface I for the Dead)
PRACTICAL GUIDANCE
When a Death Occurs
​When a death has occurred, please contact the parish office. We will walk you through every step of the process and coordinate with your funeral home.​​
​
We are deeply sorry for your the recent loss of your loved one. We are here for you and your family during this challenging period.
1
Contact the Parish Office
Call us at (843) 768-0357 as soon as you are able. We will begin coordinating with you and your family. There is no need to have everything figured out first — just reach out.
2
Meet with the Team
A meeting with a team member walks you through the steps to come. We will work with you and the funeral home to find a date and time for the funeral. We'll discuss burial arrangements help you plan the order of mass, readings, and music (as applicable).
CONTACT US FIRST​​
(843) 768-0357
office@holyspiritsc.org
Office Hours:
Mon–Thu 8:30 am–4:00 pm​
Funeral Planning
​Use the following forms to plan your readings, songs, and readers for the liturgy. Parishioners are encouraged to make advance funeral plans in terms of selection of readings and hymns.
Resources
FROM THE USCCB
An Overview of Catholic Funeral Rites
The Catholic funeral rite is divided into several stations, or parts, each with its own purpose. Learn more about them below.
Vigil Service (Wake)
"At the vigil, the Christian community keeps watch with the family in prayer to the God of mercy and finds strength in Christ's presence" (Order of Christian Funerals, no. 56). The Vigil Service usually takes place during the period of visitation and viewing at the funeral home. It is a time to remember the life of the deceased and to commend him/her to God. In prayer we ask God to console us in our grief and give us strength to support one another. The Vigil Service can take the form of a Service of the Word with readings from Sacred Scripture accompanied by reflection and prayers. It can also take the form of one of the prayers of the Office for the Dead from the Liturgy of the Hours. The clergy and your funeral director can assist in planning such service. It is most appropriate, when family and friends are gathered together for visitation, to offer time for recalling the life of the deceased. For this reason, eulogies are usually encouraged to be done at the funeral home during visitation or at the Vigil Service.
Funeral Liturgy
The funeral liturgy is the central liturgical celebration of the Christian community for the deceased. When one of its members dies, the Church encourages the celebration of the funeral liturgy at a Mass. When Mass cannot be celebrated, a funeral liturgy outside Mass can be celebrated at the church or in the funeral home. At the funeral liturgy, the Church gathers with the family and friends of the deceased to give praise and thanks to God for Christ's victory over sin and death, to commend the deceased to God's tender mercy and compassion, and to seek strength in the proclamation of the Paschal Mystery. The funeral liturgy, therefore, is an act of worship, and not merely an expression of grief.
Rite of Committal (Burial or Interment)
The Rite of Committal, the conclusion of the funeral rite, is the final act of the community of faith in caring for the body of its deceased member. It should normally be celebrated at the place of committal, that is, beside the open grave or place of interment. In committing the body to its resting place, the community expresses the hope that, with all those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, the deceased awaits the glory of the resurrection. The Rite of Committal is an expression of the communion that exists between the Church on earth and the Church in heaven: the deceased passes with the farewell prayers of the community of believers into the welcoming company of those who need faith no longer, but see God face-to-face.
A NOTE ON CREMATION
Guidelines on Cremation
The Catholic Church permits cremation, provided it is not chosen for reasons that are contrary to Christian belief in the resurrection of the body. The Church asks that cremated remains be treated with the same respect as the body, and that they be buried or interred in a sacred place rather than scattered or kept at home.
A full Funeral Mass can be celebrated with the body present before cremation, or a Mass of Christian Burial can be celebrated with the cremated remains.
