Funerals

PREPARING FOR FUNERAL

  1.  Contact the St. Theresa Parish office @ 337-783-1880.
  2. Make an appointment to meet with the priest.
  3. Set a service date and time.
  4. Follow the instructions in the packet from the church secretary or church Funeral Coordinator.
  5. Refer any questions to the priest through the parish secretary.
  6. Funeral lectors who will read at the mass and family members who will participate in placing the pall should meet with the church funeral coordinator the day before the funeral so that she may instruct them on the order of the service.


The funeral package consists of

ORDER OF FUNERAL MASS

Processional Hymn

Opening Prayer---------------------Priest

Placing of Pall, Cross, & Bible

First Reading------Old Testament

Second Reading------New Testament

Gospel/Homily----------------------Priest

General Intercession

Offertory Selection (hymn)

Eucharistic Prayer-----------------Priest

Communion Selections (hymn)

Meditation Selection (song)

Concluding Rite----------------------Priest

Recessional Hymn

FRONT COVER OF THE PROGRAM

CHURCH NAME: ST. THERESA CATHOLIC CHURCH

ADDRESS: 417 W 3 RD ST

CITY: Crowley, LA 70526

PRIEST: Rev. Mark Odoguje, Pastor

THE FUNERAL SERVICE
  • Wake Service: Visitation: 8.00 am.
  • Funeral Mass is usually at 10:00 am.
THE MASS MUST BE CELEBRATED ON THE SAME DAY AS THE WAKE SERVICE IF THE WAKE IS IN THE CHURCH.
  • RECOMMENDED STIPEND IS $300.00


NOTE:
  • All church fees are due at the parish office no less than twenty-four hours before the funeral Mass. These fees are applied directly to church expenses (e.g., utilities).
  • Although families may choose to give the priest a stipend, they do not charge for funeral services. However, gifts are greatly appreciated.
  • Every family must come to the church office before setting a date for a funeral. The church calendar of events determines date availability. Scheduled events are not changed to accommodate funeral services.
  •  Funeral lectors—family members and friends (must be Catholics) who wish to read at the funeral Mass must follow the liturgical minister's dress code (females must wear a dress with a hem at or below the knee; no sleeveless dresses and no low-cut necklines). Ladies are encouraged to wear stockings and closed-toe shoes.
  • Men are to wear slacks, shirts, and ties. Men are encouraged to wear suits.
  • All lectors are given a copy of the readings before the funeral.
  • Readers are never to approach the altar with items in their hands.
  • They are to read from the lectionary, not from copies of the readings.
  • Readers should always process with the priest and the liturgical ministers.
HALL USAGE:
  • Families preparing for funerals are invited to use the parish hall for a reception if the hall is available.
  • The stipend for hall usage for funerals held at the church is $300.00, which covers the cost of utilities. A $100.00 deposit is also required if the hall is not cleaned after the funeral.
  • The hall will be available to the family from 9:00 am-2:00 pm on the funeral day.
  • Items are not to be brought to the hall before 9:00 am the morning of the funeral (notify your reception coordinator).
  • Food may be warmed in the hall kitchen but not prepared due to insurance regulations.
  • The family must provide all supplies for the reception. The church will provide the kitchen, stove and oven, tables, and chairs to accommodate up to 145 guests.
  • The family or its designee removes trash from the building and straightens tables and chairs before leaving.
  • Due to the substantial discount given for funeral rentals, the church does not provide refunds due to a change in circumstances that are beyond our control.
FUNERAL MUSIC PROCEDURE:
  •  You are receiving this information because you have contacted the Church office staff to arrange a Christian Funeral Mass at St. Theresa Church.
  • St. Theresa Church has designated the church musicians to coordinate music for all funeral services. The family contacts them.
  • Other musicians may not use the church instruments without proper authorization.
  • The fee is set by the musician.
The music parts are:
  • The processional song: ____________________
  • The responsorial psalm: (should be sung, but may be read)
  • The gospel acclamation: (always sung-no option)
  • The offertory song: ______________________________
  • The communion hymn: ____________________________
  • The mediation hymn: (the only place for a solo) _________________


The meditation hymn should be uplifting and directly connected to the relationship between God and the believer. It should be sung to uplift the surviving family members and the church body and to magnify Christ's presence. The chosen soloist must know the selected song. Musicians may charge additional fees for extra rehearsals with the soloist.


  • Recessional song: ___________________________


     Tapes, CDs, or other prerecorded music are not allowed during mass.