What is the order of a Catholic funeral Mass?

The Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and the Final Commendation and Farewell. Your parish confirms the details.

Can a Catholic funeral include a eulogy?

Parishes differ. Many allow a short word of remembrance before the Final Commendation; ask your parish first.

Catholic funeral program with the Funeral Mass order of service

The Mass of Christian Burial, pre-filled in the order of the Order of Christian Funerals. Add the readings, hymns and names, and the parish has the final say.

Free to design and proof. Pay once to download.
Funeral program	Bifold or 8-page booklet	$24
Cards	Prayer, memorial and thank-you cards	$15
Complete set	The program and all three cards	$39

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Celebrating a Life

Robert “Bob” Lindqvist was born on March 14, 1941, in Two Harbors, Minnesota, the second of four children. He grew up fishing the North Shore with his father and singing in the church choir his mother directed, and he kept both habits all his life.

After serving in the Army Corps of Engineers, Bob came home to marry Carol Jensen in 1965. Together they raised three children in the house on Woodland Avenue, where the porch light and the coffee were always on.

Bob taught shop and drafting at Central High School for thirty-one years. Former students still stop by with birdhouses and bookshelves they built in his class. He was a trustee of his church, a Tuesday-morning volunteer at the food shelf, and the man to call when anything with a motor stopped working.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Carol; his children Karin (Mark), Erik (Julie) and Annika; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Lars.

Bob met every day with a steady faith and a dry joke. We will miss his laugh, his patience and his hands that could fix anything.

Obituary

Order of service

The Funeral Mass order of service, pre-filled

Introductory Rites

Greeting
Sprinkling with Holy Water
Placing of the Pall
Entrance Procession
Collect

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading
Responsorial Psalm
Second Reading
Gospel Acclamation
Gospel
Homily
Universal Prayer

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Preparation of the Gifts
Eucharistic Prayer
Communion Rite
Prayer after Communion

Final Commendation

Final Commendation
Procession to the Place of Committal

No Mass? The Funeral Liturgy outside Mass is a choice too: the same rites without the Liturgy of the Eucharist, with the Lord’s Prayer after the Universal Prayer. Words of remembrance, where the parish allows them, can be added before the Final Commendation.

Choosing the readings

The family usually chooses with the priest or the parish bereavement team, from the readings approved for funerals. Some that families often choose:

Old Testament	Wisdom 3:1–9; Isaiah 25:6a, 7–9; Lamentations 3:17–26
Responsorial Psalm	Psalm 23, 27, 63, 103, 116, 122 or 130
New Testament	Romans 6:3–9; Romans 8:31b–35, 37–39; 1 Corinthians 15:51–57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Revelation 21:1–5a, 6b–7
Gospel	Matthew 5:1–12a; Matthew 11:25–30; John 6:37–40; John 11:17–27; John 14:1–6

The program lists each reading by its citation and the reader’s name, as Catholic programs do; the words are proclaimed from the lectionary. Your parish has the full list. Funeral Bible verses.

Catholic hymns for a funeral

With their full words in the library: The King of Love My Shepherd Is, The Lord’s My Shepherd, Abide with Me, Amazing Grace, Our God, Our Help in Ages Past, Nearer, My God, to Thee. Newer favorites such as “On Eagle’s Wings”, “Be Not Afraid” and “Here I Am, Lord” are under copyright: list them by title in the order of service; the parish music director has the words. Funeral hymns.

Matching holy cards

Front

A 2.5 × 4.25 in prayer card with the photo on the front and the Hail Mary, the Lord’s Prayer or a psalm on the back, in the same design as the program. The Calla, Rosary and Window designs were made with a Catholic Mass in mind. Prayer cards.

Sample for an invented person, Margaret Ann Doyle, with a placeholder photo.

Questions

What is the order of a Catholic funeral Mass?: The Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and the Final Commendation and Farewell. Your parish confirms the details.
Who chooses the readings?: Usually the family, with the priest or the parish bereavement team, from the readings approved for funerals.
Can a Catholic funeral include a eulogy?: Parishes differ. Many allow a short word of remembrance before the Final Commendation; ask your parish first.

Make a Catholic funeral program