PA960EE Planning and Conducting Funeral and Memorial Services
This course is concerned with how a deacon, pastoral associate, member of a bereavement committee, or anyone helping in the planning of funerals deals with the different aspects of the funeral from the beginning stages of death right up through the final burial and committal service. The course begins with a look at how the parish representative or deacon might help a family deal with the death of a loved one and plan a funeral service. The current Roman Catholic guidelines covering vigils and calling hours, the funeral mass, memorial services, committal services, graveside services, and cremations are looked at and discussed thoroughly. In addition, suggestions are made regarding music and scripture and the how and when to use eulogies, sermons, and words of remembrance.
The course also discusses how to handle what might be considered problematic funerals including services for infants, suicides, tragic deaths, multiple deaths, and deaths of clergy members and important members of the community. The course concludes with how best to use modern technology and social media in preparing for funeral and memorial services and some helpful information and resources.
This course is meant for any those who may preside at a funeral, vigil, memorial, graveside or committal service or those helping in the preparation of any funeral liturgy or anyone who may be helping a priest in funeral liturgy.
Course Syllabus
Planning and Conducting Funeral and Memorial Services
Course Description:
This course is concerned with how a deacon, pastoral associate, member of a bereavement committee, or anyone helping in the planning of funerals deals with the different aspects of the funeral from the beginning stages of death right up through the final burial and committal service. The course begins with a look at how the parish representative or deacon might help a family deal with the death of a loved one and plan a funeral service. The current Roman Catholic guidelines covering vigils and calling hours, the funeral mass, memorial services, committal services, graveside services, and cremations are looked at and discussed thoroughly. In addition, suggestions are made regarding music and scripture and the how and when to use eulogies, sermons, and words of remembrance.
The course also discusses how to handle what might be considered problematic funerals including services for infants, suicides, tragic deaths, multiple deaths, and deaths of clergy members and important members of the community. The course concludes with how best to use modern technology and social media in preparing for funeral and memorial services and some helpful information and resources.
This course is meant for any those who may preside at a funeral, vigil, memorial, graveside or committal service or those helping in the preparation of any funeral liturgy or anyone who may be helping a priest in funeral liturgy.
Module 1 Helping Others Deal with Death
Module 2 Liturgical Guidelines Regarding Roman Catholic Funerals
Module 3 Music, Scripture, Eulogies, and other Considerations
Module 4 The Vigil and Calling Hours
Module 5 The Funeral Mass
Module 6 The Memorial Services (Funeral Without a Mass) at the Church
Module 7 The Committal Service and the Grace Side Service
Module 8 Other Types of Funeral Services or Prayer Services for Closure
Module 9 Problematic Funerals: Clergy, Infants, Suicides, Tragic Deaths, Multiple Deaths, etc.
Module 10 Using Modern Technology and Social Media
Module 11 Handling Wishes for End of Life Care
Module 12 Resources and Other Helpful Information
Required Textbooks:
Preparing a Catholic Funeral: Third Edition, Updated & Expanded
by Kenneth Koehler
Publisher: Morehouse Educational Resources; August 1, 2012
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1606741209
ISBN-13: 978-1606741207
Or Kindle Edition
Available through Amazon
Planning The Catholic Funeral
by Terence P. Curley
Publisher: Liturgical Press; July 1, 2005
ISBN-10: 0814615244
ISBN-13: 978-0814615249
Through Death to Life
By Joseph M. Chaplin
Publisher: Ave Maria Press; 2012
ISBN-10: 1-59471-283-2
ISBN-13: 978-1-59471-283-8
Order of Christian Funerals: Complete Text of the Order Approved for use in the United States of America (Study Edition)
Publisher: Liturgy Training Publications; Stg edition (March 1990)
ISBN-10: 093046768X
ISBN-13: 978-0930467685
(Purchase used from Amazon.com for .01 cent via third party, but allow plenty of time for shipping – the shipping cost more than the text $3.99)