Please call Sr. Maureen O'Brien 209-835-4560x155 to notify her of the demise of a loved one.  She will help you and guide you through the process of a funeral.

The Church has endeavored in its revisions of the liturgy to be sensitive to God's presence with people in their times of desperation and suffering, as well as in their hopes and dreams for new life. The rite itself has changed as recently as 1985 with the New Order of Christian Funerals. We celebrate the funeral rites to offer worship, praise and thanksgiving to God for the gift of a life which has now been returned to God.

The Christian funeral is comprised of three ritual moments. The Vigil is normally the first gathering of the community after the death of a Christian. At the Vigil the Christian community keeps watch with the family in prayer and finds strength in Christ's presence. The active participation of all present helps them express their consolation, therefore the structure of the Vigil is such that everyone, including our friends and family who are not members of our faith, can pray together through Scripture and song. The Vigil Liturgy, an official rite of the Church, should not be excluded in favor of a private devotion such as the recitation of the Rosary. When many of the mourners are not Catholic, the rosary is most inappropriate as it excludes them. It is possible to incorporate the Rosary (or a portion of it) into the Vigil; or it may be recited privately by anyone who so desires. The Vigil is celebrated the evening prior to the Funeral Liturgy. Eulogies are a good way of remembering the deceased; the Vigil is an excellent time to recount the life of the beloved who has passed away - this is the appropriate time for a Eulogy.

The Funeral Liturgy is the principal liturgical celebration of the Church for the deceased. It can take the form of the "Funeral Mass" or the "Funeral Liturgy outside Mass." Funeral Masses are to be celebrated in the Church.  

Please get in touch with Sr. Maureen O'Brien 209-835-4560x155 who will help you and guide you in this difficult time. There should not be any private devotion at that time (i.e.: the Rosary); Eulogies ought to be given at the Vigil, the night before and not during the Mass.

The Rite of Committal is the final ritual moment of the Church's Christian Funeral. "Whenever possible, the rite of committal is to be celebrated at the site of committal, that is, beside the open grave or place of interment, rather than at the cemetery chapel" (OCF, 204).

As with any liturgical celebration, music is an integral part of all the funeral rites. "Music allows the community to express convictions and feeling that words alone may fail to convey. It has the power to console and uplift the mourners and to strengthen the unity of the assembly in faith and love. The texts of the songs chosen for a particular celebration should express the paschal mystery of the Lord's suffering death, and triumph over death, and should be related to the readings from Scriptures" (OCF, 30). The music played or sung at the service must be liturgically appropriate. Please contact the Parish Office (835-4560). The ministry provided by competent cantors, choirs, and instrumentalists is very much desired by all involved.

In addition to consoling mourners with words of faith and support and acts of kindness, the community's "ministry of consolation is expressed in its active participation in the celebration of the funeral rites" (OCF, 11). Therefore every effort should be made to invite their full participation in sung responses, hymns and prayers. In the rites, "laymen and laywomen may serve as readers, ushers, ministers of the Eucharist." Family members or friends may sometimes perform these responsibilities, if trained and with the approval of the priest.

The Church understands that this is a difficult time for the loved ones of the deceased. Our parish will make every effort to assist the family of the deceased.

The liturgical season, (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Times) set the mood and the atmosphere for the Church decor. "The funeral rites should be celebrated in an atmosphere of simple beauty, in a setting that encourages participation" (OCF, 24). Liturgical symbols and signs such as the Easter Candle, Holy Water, Incense and the Pall (placed over the casket in Church) all affirm our Christian belief and hope in the Paschal Mystery. Fresh flowers, can enhance the setting of the funeral rites. A maximum of two (2) standing flower arrangements are allowed in the Church. A Pall is used to cover the casket - therefore no flower arrangement will be permitted on the casket. Only Christian symbols may rest on or be placed near the coffin during the funeral rites.

The Church is a place of worship where we gather to worship the living God. It is expected that one respects this and conducts oneself in a manner that will not disrupt the sacredness of this holy place. Please refrain from talking; no gum - no candy - no drink (this includes water) and no food is to be brought into the Church. All cell phones and pagers must be turned off or put on vibrate. For your convenience, restrooms are located outside the Church in the Ministry Center, ground floor. If you have young children with you, the children’s room is located at the entrance of the Church; feel free to use it.

There is no available space for a reception after the Funeral Service. We suggest the family contact a local restaurant.

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