St. PatrickCatholic ChurchSt. PatrickCatholic ChurchEntrusting our beloved dead to the mercy of God
The death of someone we love brings deep sorrow — and, for the Christian, sure hope. In her funeral rites the Church commends the faithful departed to God’s mercy and prays for the day when we shall be raised with Christ, who has conquered death and opened for us the gates of eternal life.
If your loved one is still living and gravely ill, please telephone the parish rather than using the inquiry form, so that he or she may receive the Last Rites. If your loved one is actively dying, call (503) 222-4086 and press 6 to reach a priest directly, at any hour.
A Catholic funeral is a sequence of three rites: the Vigil (sometimes called the wake), a time of prayer on the evening or the day before the funeral — uncommon today, though the parish is glad to assist when a family wishes one; the Funeral Mass, at which the Holy Sacrifice is offered for the repose of the soul; and the Rite of Committal at the place of burial. The Paschal candle, the holy water, and the white pall recall the hope of Baptism and the promise of the Resurrection.
Planning begins with the Funeral Inquiry Form below. Once it is received, our Pastoral Associate, Mr. James Ruiz, will telephone you within forty-eight hours and will guide your family through every practical decision: the date, the form of the funeral, the readings, the music, the celebrant, the reception, and the paperwork. He is your single point of contact from that point forward, and nothing need be decided before you speak with him. Please contact the parish before finalizing a date with the funeral home. If an online form is difficult for you, telephone the parish office at (503) 222-4086 and a staff member will complete it with you. The office is closed Saturday through Monday; a form submitted on those days is received on Tuesday and answered by Wednesday.
Fr. Timothy is glad to meet with any family for prayer and pastoral care. That meeting is entirely optional, and it does not concern logistics; ask Mr. Ruiz or the parish office, and it will be arranged.
A few things families are often glad to know in advance. Any priest may celebrate the funeral, and a deacon may celebrate the Vigil, a Funeral Liturgy outside Mass, or the Rite of Committal. Eulogies are not permitted at a Catholic funeral liturgy in the Archdiocese of Portland, though the pastor may, at his discretion, permit one person to offer brief words of remembrance. Only sacred music is used; when the parish provides the music, the musician’s fee of $150 is required. The parish offering of $300 is suggested and never required, for the sacraments are never sold. The parish provides readers, so that your family need not find anyone.
The Church commends the reverent burial of the body and also permits cremation, provided the cremated remains are laid to rest in a cemetery, mausoleum, or columbarium. They may not be scattered, divided among family members, kept at home, or made into keepsakes. Natural organic reduction (“terramation”) and alkaline hydrolysis are not permitted for the funeral of a Catholic. We are always glad to answer your questions.
Our guide, Planning a Catholic Funeral, explains all of this in detail — who may have a Catholic funeral, who may celebrate, the readings and music, family roles in the liturgy, offerings, the parish hall, and parking. Please read it at your own pace, and begin whenever you are ready.