Funeral Liturgy
At the death of a Christian, whose life of faith was begun at the waters of baptism and strengthened at the Eucharistic table, the Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased.  The Church also ministers to the sorrowing and consoles them in the funeral rites with the comforting Word of God and the sacrament of the Eucharist.  The Mass, the memorial of Christ’s death and resurrection, is the principal celebration of the Christian Funeral.  The participation of the family and all others gathered for the Mass is encouraged and welcomed.             
 
Relatives and friends of the deceased are invited and urged to participate by reading the Scriptures of the Mass, by offering aloud the Prayers of the Faithful, and by presenting the gifts of bread and wine. In a meeting with the parish Funeral Planner before the service, the family will be aided in choosing appropriate Scripture readings, musical selections, and the wording of the Prayers of the Faithful. Music is an integral part of the liturgical celebration and is always included in the Funeral Liturgy.
 
Planning
Dealing with the death of a family member can be overwhelming, to say the least. Pre-planning your funeral liturgy can be of immense value to survivors during a time when there are a multitude of details for them to attend to.  Completing this task in advance will truly be a gift to them.
 
Staff member, Darwin Reeck, will be happy to assist you in the process. Simply call 941-966-0807 ext. 303 to make an appointment.
 
If a family member dies, please contact the office and arrange to schedule the funeral Mass. If you have not done any pre-planning, Darwin will sit with you to plan the funeral liturgy.

• As an extension of the Eucharistic meal shared at the Funeral Mass, we offer the opportunity for family and friends to gather at Fr. Fred Tillotson Hall for a luncheon, immediately following the Mass. Our funeral luncheon team will take care of the set-up, food preparation, serving, and clean-up. The fee for the meal is very modest and there is no rental fee for the use of the hall.

Memorial Garden
Our Lady of Mount Carmel offers for the cremains to be interred in its beautifully maintained and prayerful Memorial Garden. This interment may take place immediately following the Funeral Mass or at a later time. The name of the deceased will be inscribed on the Memorial Wall in the foyer of the Parish Center.
 
You may pre-register for a space in the Memorial Garden by contacting Darwin Reeck at 941-966-0807 ext. 303.