“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11: 25-26

Roman Catholics celebrate funeral rites to offer worship and thanksgiving to God for the life of a faithful and committed member of the church. Prayers are offered to God and for the repose of the soul of the deceased, and support is given to the bereaved. A funeral is not an isolated moment, but part of the life of a community in which people care for each other.

In a similar way to most types and varieties of funeral service, planning a Catholic funeral service for your deceased loved one involves a range of different options and choices. There are many ways in which you are able to personalise the service, whilst still embracing the time-honoured traditions of Roman Catholic funeral liturgy.

Reception of the Body into church the night before the funeral is still a common Roman Catholic practice, though less so than previously. Indeed, this is no longer possible in some of our local Catholic churches. Recent years have also seen a drift towards a single service held in the cemetery or crematorium chapel.

However, in the face of these modern trends, Catholics are encouraged to celebrate a funeral in three stages or movements, reflecting the Easter journey of Jesus Christ, from death to resurrection: The Vigil, The Funeral Liturgy and The Committal.

The Vigil is the principal rite celebrated between the death and the funeral liturgy itself. As the first stage of the farewell journey, its mood is one of quiet support which helps to prepare the bereaved for the final leave-taking. The Vigil may be celebrated in conjunction with the Reception of the Body into church or the family home, or may alternatively take place as a separate service in the home of the deceased, the funeral home or in a suitable alternative location.

The Reception of the Body into church may be celebrated as part of The Vigil, with the deceased remaining in church overnight, or may occur immediately before The Funeral Liturgy. Additionally, many traditional Roman Catholic families choose to receive the body of the deceased into the family home the night before the funeral liturgy, or the day before the reception of the body into church.

This is the main liturgical celebration of the Christian community for the deceased person and is usually held in church. This may take the form of a Funeral Mass or Requiem Mass, or a Funeral Liturgy outside Mass. The Catholic Church encourages a Mass, since the eucharist is the memorial celebration of Christ's own death and resurrection. Some Catholic churches and priests allow for a funeral liturgy outside the context of a Mass, which may be a preferred option for some families.

The Rite of Committal usually takes place immediately after the Funeral Liturgy. The final act of leave-taking is celebrated at the graveside, or in the crematorium chapel, depending on whether you choose to have a burial or a cremation.

Earth Burial has always been a traditional part of the Catholic funeral. The ceremony of burial, using prayers and symbols drawn from scripture, focuses the thoughts of the bereaved on the burial and subsequent resurrection of Jesus.

Burial allows the bereaved to face the reality of death. As the coffin is lowered into the grave, one is able to express one's farewell through the sprinkling of earth or holy water. The family are able to leave, knowing that the deceased person is 'settled' in a special place.

Cremation is a relatively new concept for Roman Catholics, with cremation only being permitted by the Vatican in 1963, and with the practice remaining much less common among Catholic familes than other Christian groups. Unlike burial, the act of cremation is not the end of the farewell process, and it is important that the natural cycle of bereavement and funeral rites is brought to completion through the act of interment of the cremated remains.

Cremated Remains ("ashes") are treated with the same reverence and respect shown to the body of the deceased person, and it is important that a resting place is reserved for them. Catholics are not permitted to retain ashes in the family home, nor are they permitted to scatter cremated remains.

The funeral ceremony is often followed by a reception. This is an opportunity for mourners to meet and console one another, and forms an important part of the leave-taking process. The reception allows for emotional release following the stressful events of the funeral, and can foster an atmosphere of reconciliation and closure on the preceding days' events.

OUR LADY OF DOLOURS' ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Servite Friars (Ordo Servorum Mariae)
500 Bury New Road
Kersal
Salford
M7 4WP
Telephone: 0161 792 2152

OUR LADY OF GRACE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Fairfax Road
Prestwich
Manchester
M25 1AS
Telephone: 0161 773 2324

ST. BERNADETTE'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
436 Bury New Road
Whitefield
Manchester
M45 7SX
Telephone: 0161 796 7877

ST. MICHAEL'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Albert Road
Whitefield
Manchester
M45 8NN
Telephone: 0161 766 5961

OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Wilson Road
Blackley
Manchester
M9 8BG
Telephone: 0161 740 2071

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING
Amos Avenue
Newton Heath
Manchester
M40 2RS
Telephone: 0161 681 3055

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE DIVINE MERCY
(The Polish Church)
196 Lloyd Street North
Moss Side
Manchester
M14 4QB
Telephone: 0161 226 1588

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PG
Telephone: 0161 273 2435

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Clive Road
Failsworth
Manchester
M35 0NN
Telephone: 0161 681 1835

ST. ANNE'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Crescent Road
Crumpsall
Manchester
M8 5UE
Telephone: 0161 740 2448

ST. BRIGID'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Grey Mare Lane
Bradford
Manchester
M11 3DR
Telephone: 0161 273 2813

ST. CHAD'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Cheetham Hill Road
Cheetham
Manchester
M8 8GG
Telephone: 0161 740 2448

ST. CLARE'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Franciscan Friary
186 Victoria Avenue
Higher Blackley
Manchester
M9 0RR
Telephone: 0161 740 4161

ST. DUNSTAN'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Moston Lane
Moston
Manchester
M40 9PA
Telephone: 0161 681 1410

ST. JOHN BOSCO ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
197 Charlestown Road
Blackley
Manchester
M9 7BD
Telephone: 0161 740 5087

ST. JOHN VIANNEY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Poynter Street
Moston
Manchester
M40 0DH
Telephone: 0161 681 6844

ST. MALACHY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Eggington Street
Collyhurst
Manchester
M40 7RG
Telephone: 0161 839 1020

ST. MARGARET MARY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
34 St Margaret's Road
New Moston
Manchester
M40 0JE
Telephone: 0161 681 1651

ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH (The Hidden Gem)
Mulberry Street
Manchester
M2 6LN
Telephone: 0161 834 3547

ST. PATRICK'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Livesey Street
Collyhurst
Manchester
M4 5HF
Telephone: 0161 839 1020

ALL SOULS & ST. JOHN VIANNEY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
622 Liverpool Street
Weaste
Salford
M5 5HG
Telephone: 0161 736 1935

THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST
Chapel Street
Salford
M3 5LL
Telephone: 0161 834 0333

THE MOTHER OF GOD & ST. JAMES' ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Pendleton Way
Salford
M6 5JA
Telephone: 0161 736 1935

OUR LADY OF DOLOURS' ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Servite Friars (Ordo Servorum Mariae)
500 Bury New Road
Kersal
Salford
M7 4WP
Telephone: 0161 792 2152

ST. BONIFACE'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
St Boniface Road
Lower Broughton
Salford
M7 9GE
Telephone: 0161 736 1774

ST. CHARLES' ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Moorside Road
Swinton
Manchester
M27 9PD
Telephone: 0161 794 1089

ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
St Joseph's Drive
Ordsall
Salford
M5 3JP
Telephone: 0161 834 0333

ST. LUKE'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Swinton Park Road
Irlams o'th'height
Salford
M6 7WR
Telephone: 0161 736 2629

ST. PETER & ST. PAUL'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Park Road
Pendleton
Salford
M6 8JR
Telephone: 0161 789 4555

ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
327 Great Cheetham Street East
Higher Broughton
Salford
M7 4UE
Telephone: 0161 792 2108

UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE DORMITION OF OUR LADY
Bury Old Road
Salford
M7 4PX
Telephone: 0161 205 7050

OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL & GUARDIAN ANGELS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Harvey Street
Elton
Bury
BL8 2RD
Telephone: 0161 764 1630

ST. JOSEPH WITH ST. BEDE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Peter Street
Bury
BL9 6AB
Telephone: 0161 764 1048

ST. MARIE'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Manchester Road
Bury
BL9 0DR
Telephone: 0161 764 1048

ST. MARY & ST. PHILIP NERI ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Belgrave Street
Radcliffe
Manchester
M26 4DG
Telephone: 0161 724 1765