Funerals
The Mass, the memorial of Christ’s death and resurrection, is the principal celebration of the Christian funeral. The funeral liturgy is one of the most beautiful and meaningful celebrations of the Church. Your family has the option of personalizing the Mass by choosing the Scripture readings and requesting specific hymns. Please see attached booklet.
PARISH OFFICE CONTACT
SAINT JOSEPH
(845) 481-4560 and dial 9
Office Hours
Monday – Friday 8:30AM – 3:30PM
SAINT PETER
(845) 658-3117
Office Hours
8:30AM-12:30PM, Monday thru Wednesday
MORE ABOUT CHRISTIAN FUNERALS
The Funeral Rites of the Catholic Church consist of the following:
- A Vigil Service, also called a Wake, the afternoon or evening prior to the Funeral Liturgy
- The Funeral Liturgy the following morning, usually a Funeral Mass but can also be a Liturgy of the Word without a Mass.
- A committal Service at the Cemetery, usually immediately following the Funeral Liturgy.
Depending on the wishes of the family, a Catholic funeral may be structured without a Vigil Service the previous evening. While the Church is sensitive to the desires of the family of the deceased for ways that a funeral might be “personalized,” in keeping with the solemnity of the occasion families must remember that the funeral liturgy is the Church’s liturgy and must adhere to Church guidelines.
