Funeral Arrangements

To schedule a funeral, please call the parish office at 612-781-6529.  We will need to know the name of the deceased, the name and telephone number of the family contact, and the name of the funeral home.  She will obtain any other necessary information to help facilitate funeral planning which will involve the availability of the priest, the church, and other parish facilities.  Once the priest celebrant verifies the day and time of the funeral, only then may it be placed on the parish calendar and published in the newspaper.  

The priest celebrant or deacon will contact the designated family member to arrange a meeting with the family to assist in the grieving process, to discuss the details of the funeral, the wake, and the burial, and to gain further information about the deceased.  

Several opportunities are offered for family involvement in the funeral Mass.  These include placement of the funeral pall at the beginning of the Liturgy, bearing the gifts of bread and wine at the offertory procession, and selecting the Readings from Scripture to be used at the Mass.

The reader of the Old and New Testament readings at the funeral Mass is typically a professional reader on the staff of St. Charles.  This is to ensure a clear, articulate, and dignified proclamation of the Word of God.  For exceptional reasons, a Catholic family member or friend may proclaim the readings from Scripture by permission of the priest celebrant, if that person is a skilled and experienced reader (for example, at another Catholic parish).

Readings for the funeral liturgy can be found here.
Music for the funeral liturgy can be found here.

The Vigil Liturgy (“Wake”) and/or the funeral luncheon are the ideal opportunities for family members and friends to share reflections about the deceased.  Within reason, there are no limitations of time or content in these settings.  The priest celebrant or deacon will make every effort to reflect knowledge of the deceased in the homily after the Gospel, and weave that knowledge into the Christian message based on the Scriptures.  In light of this, eulogies are not permitted at the funeral Mass itself.

Mary will notify the music director, Peter Vanderwaal, of the pending funeral.

Special musical requests may only be made by contacting Peter Vanderwaal directly at [email protected] or 612-787-1188.  Music is an integral part of the Sacred Liturgy.  Peter is aware of Church guidelines governing liturgical music and will advise the family as to whether specific requests are permissible during the Mass.  

Music not permitted during Mass may be played in Doran Hall during the funeral luncheon, if desired.

We request a member of the funeral director’s staff to be present in the Church during the Mass to give appropriate directions to family and friends who are participating, e. g. for the offertory procession.

St. Charles does not offer live streaming or recording of the funeral liturgy. Should there be a desire to live stream or record, the family is welcome to do it themselves or hire an outside vendor.

Should the family choose to provide a luncheon following the Mass or burial, Doran Hall may be used when available. 
 
Arrangements for the funeral luncheon are to be made directly by the family with Mary Perrin by calling 612-787-1150 or at [email protected].  She will recommend established caterers familiar with St. Charles facilities.  Mary will need to know the approximate number expected and the name of the caterer providing the food.

The family will make arrangements for ordering and payment of the food directly with the caterer.  Volunteers will be provided to serve the luncheon, and will be contacted by the Church staff.  

Please do not have flowers delivered from the florist before the morning of the funeral.  St. Charles Church does not have anyone on staff to accept and care for flowers delivered from the florist.

Flowers may be left in front of the altar after the funeral Mass, but this is optional.  No flowers may be left during Advent and Lent.  We ask that funeral directors not move flowers belonging to the Church already in the sanctuary.

All flower stands or displays or bulletins boards moved in the Atrium to facilitate visitation prior to Mass need to be returned to their original positions.

The funeral stipend is $500.00, which includes the services of a soloist,organist and Doran Hall for the luncheon.  Additional musicians would need to be paid directly by the family.

No parishioner will be denied a funeral at St. Charles due to financial need.

An offering may be made to the Parish in appreciation for the services provided for the funeral luncheon.  This is, however, not required and is purely discretionary.

Family members and those making funeral arrangements are to be reminded that the clear desire of the Catholic Church, both in Canon Law and the Order of Christian Funerals (the Church’s funeral ritual book), is that the body be present for the funeral Mass and then be properly interred.  This reflects the dignity of the human body according the teachings of the faith.  Cremation is permitted, but it is not preferred.