The clergy and staff of Holy Trinity Catholic Church are available to assist throughout the process of dealing with the loss of a loved one. We offer the following guidance and planning information for those who have lost a loved one, and for those who are making funeral preparations for themselves. Holy Trinity's Funeral Preparation Form (click here) is meant only to help with general preparation. Of course all are welcome to contact the parish office for specific details, and for clergy assistance. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
What are the Catholic funeral rites?
There are many opportunities for prayer after death, such as gathering at the funeral home and viewing the body. The Church offers three formal services, all or some of which may be used:
Vigil for the Deceased: The evening before the funeral, a Vigil may be scheduled with visitation. The Vigil is held at the funeral home or church. Devotions, such as the Rosary, and remembrances of the deceased (eulogy) are encouraged at this time.
Funeral Mass: The Eucharist is the heart of the Paschal Mystery, when we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord and our participation in that mystery. The Mass is offered for the person who has died. (Eulogies are not appropriate at a Funeral Mass.)
Graveside Service: The Rite of Committal is celebrated at the place of burial or interment.
Who assists with funeral preparations?
The funeral rites are planned in coordination with the family of the deceased, the Parish Staff (including the Pastor or Director of Liturgical Music), and the funeral home director. With assistance of the funeral home, we help the family with funeral planning. Volunteers from our parish may also be available to assist as greeters, altar servers, Ministers of Holy Communion, and Lectors.
When do funeral preparations begin?
Before or immediately upon the death of a loved one, families should contact the Parish Office. Advance preparation for funeral services is recommended. Contact the Church any time to make funeral preparations for yourself or a loved one.
Does the Church recommend a Funeral Mass?
Yes, a celebration of the Mass is strongly encouraged for any Catholic who has died, even though the family may not be Catholic. On days when a Funeral Mass is not permitted, a prayer service is celebrated, such as Sundays, Holy Days of Obligation, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
Is a Funeral Mass allowed on Holy Days of Obligation?
Funeral Masses are not allowed on Holy Days of Obligation, which includes Sundays, Mary Mother of God, Assumption of Mary, All Saints and Immaculate Conception.
Can I choose the readings, or does the Church choose them?
The family is encouraged to select readings from Sacred Scripture. Click (here) for selection of possible readings.
Can I choose the hymns for the Mass?
The family is encouraged to meet with our Pastoral Administrator or Director of Sacred Music to plan all music for the liturgy. For more information about suggested hymns and musician fees, please go to our page on Music for Funeral Liturgies (click here).
What times are available for funerals at Holy Trinity Catholic Church?
Holy Trinity Catholic Church will make every effort to set a funeral time convenient for the family. However, accommodations may be required during high-traffic events in the downtown area. Funeral Masses cannot take place on Sunday.
If there is no visitation the evening before, can we have a visitation hour before the funeral?
Though this does not happen frequently, with the permission of the pastor, a visitation can take place beginning one hour before the funeral.
Can I have friends and family members offer a Eulogy?
One family member or friend may speak at the end of the Funeral Mass. Eulogies are most appropriate at the Vigil and at the Graveside Service.
What if my family member wants to donate his/her body to science, what do we need to know?
The Church views donation of organs as a commendable and meritorious act, as well as a donation of one’s body. A Funeral Mass takes place in the presence of the body (before donation to science). Otherwise a Memorial Mass is held if the body is not present.
Does the Catholic Church allow cremation?
Yes, the Church permits cremation, [CCC 2301] but the Church still prefers burial or entombment of the deceased. To learn more about the Church’s view on Cremation, please refer to the USCCB Statement on Cremation and the Order of Christian Funerals (here).
If my family and friends cannot be present, is there a live webcam they can watch?
Yes, the family can request that our parish broadcast be turned on, so that family and friends may pay their respects and view the funeral via the internet, if they are unable to attend in person.
Does the Church charge for funerals?
The Church does not charge for funerals. At the family’s discretion, a financial offering is customarily made to the celebrant. Please contact the Pastor or Director of Liturgical Music for information on offerings for the organist and cantor.
Can I bring flowers into the Church?
Flower arrangements and funeral "sprays" may be brought into the foyer of the church. Nothing can be placed so that it obscures the view of the altar. In the case of cremations, floral arrangements may be placed at the foot of the table holding the funeral urn. Artificial flowers are not allowed. For and and all flower requests, please contact the parish office as soon as possible.
May I request that a priest from another parish preside at a funeral at Holy Trinity Catholic Church?
Yes, visiting priests are welcomed at Holy Trinity. If they are outside the Diocese of Shreveport and presiding at the Mass, they will need to submit a "Letter of Suitability" from their local diocesan bishop.
To learn more about the moral choices that families encounter at the passing of their loved ones, please view the Statement from the Catholic Bishops of Louisiana, entitled "Approaching Death: The Moral Choices," click (here).
The Diocese of Shreveport operates St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery as a resting place for departed Catholics. It features nearly 100 sections arranged into plots and crypts. In addition, its Garden Mausoleum and Chapel Mausoleum feature over 200 interred tombs. For information about burial costs or available spaces, contact Ed Hydro via email or by phone 318-219-7277. To view the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery website, click (here).
Our experiences of suffering, injustice, and death, can seem to contradict the Good News; they can shake our faith and become a temptation against it. During such times, Christians must turn to the witnesses of our faith. For example, Abraham “in hope... believed against hope.” Also, the Blessed Virgin Mary walked into the “night of faith” in sharing the darkness of her son’s suffering and death (CCC 164-65). Christians must also remember that Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, precedes us into the Father’s glorious kingdom so that we, the members of his Body, may live in the hope of one day being with him forever (CCC 665).