Funeral
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The Parish family of St. John offers their condolences for your loss. In the days ahead, we pray that you may feel the presence of God through those who will offer their support and sympathy.
A funeral is ordinarily scheduled with the Church by the funeral director. No funerals are permitted on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
Procedures for a Funeral Mass during the Pandemic of Covid-19
1. After the family meets with the funeral director, the next of kin is to arrange to meet with Father Mark Curesky, OFM Conv., the pastor of St. John Church, with no more than 3 members of the immediate family. (I am not permitted to be in the presence of anyone who is not Covid-free or symptom free for 10 days.) Masks must be worn and social distancing must be observed by all who attend the meeting.
The purpose of the meeting is to present how the family wishes their loved one to be remembered, to go over the procedures for a funeral Mass at St. John Church during the pandemic, and to select readings and hymns for the funeral Mass.
2. A funeral Mass during the pandemic is restricted to family members and very close friends of the deceased. It is to be designated as private in the obituary.
The funeral Mass will be streamed and saved for a week on the Parish’s website.
3. All who attend the funeral Mass are to be Covid-free or symptom free for 10 days, wear a mask and observe social distancing on entering the Church, during the funeral Mass, and as they exit the Church.
4. Seating for the funeral Mass is limited to 40 people. The next of kin is responsible to present a seating chart for the funeral Mass. Each pew can accommodate up to 6 persons who are willing to sit together. Some pews may have 6 persons, other pews may have 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 persons. But the limit is 40 people. The names of the persons sitting in each pew must be submitted to St. John Church no later than 2 days before the funeral Mass.
The names will be posted on each of the pews so that each person may know where he/she is to sit A seating form will be provided during the meeting with Fr. Mark.
5. If there is a coffin, those who will be serving as pallbearers are to gather at the hearse parked in the front of the Church to assist with the carrying of the coffin into the Church.
There will be no special designated seating for pallbearers.
6. There is no meeting of the coffin or rite in the main foyer of the Church. The funeral director is to place the coffin sideways to the right of the main altar, leaving the center aisle open or the urn on the table in the front of the main altar.
7. Those who are attending the funeral Mass may enter the Church at any time and be seated in the designated space posted on each of the pews.
8. Given that no missalettes are permitted, there is no congregational singing. All selected hymns will be done by the Church’s music director/organist and a cantor.
9. The priest proclaims all the readings.
10. There is no presentation of gifts.
11. There is no sign of peace.
12. Those desiring to receive Communion will be invited by the priest, pew by pew.
To receive Communion, individuals come down the main/center aisle single-file, observing the markings on the carpet to maintain social distancing. As the individual approaches the priest to receive Communion, they lower their mask. The priest places the consecrated host in the individual’s hand. The individual is to consume the host, put their mask back in place and return to their seat.
13. No eulogy is permitted in the Church. A eulogy may be given during the burial service at the cemetery.
14. At the end of the funeral Mass, there is a brief concluding funeral rite. If there is a coffin, the pallbearers will be invited to meet in the front foyer of the Church. The funeral director will bring the coffin to the main foyer of the Church.
If there is an urn, the funeral director will carry the urn to the back of the Church.
The family will then be directed to exit the Church observing social distancing. They will be followed by all others who are also to observe social distancing.