FUNERAL GUIDELINES AT THE BASILICA

The primary focus of any funeral is God, and all funeral Masses are acts of worship of God, during which we pray for God's mercy and for the eternal repose of the deceased person. These are the guidelines for funerals at the Basilica.

1: Both inhumation and cremation are permitted by the Catholic Church. Since cremation is becoming very popular, please remind the families that the Church requires that the cremains be buried in the ground or interred in a mausoleum after the funeral Mass, NOT retained at home, office or any other location, or divided into jewelry or private repositories for distribution among family and friends. The Rite of Christian Burial anticipates an opening procession down the main aisle of the church following an opening prayer at the church door, at the beginning of any funeral. Usually, as you know, caskets are wheeled down; cremation urns should also be either carried by a loved one or set on some type of moveable pedestal or plinth down the aisle, followed by the family to their seats;

2: Music and Scriptural readings may be chosen by the family, with the final decisions reserved to the pastor and to the Basilica organist: all music must be sacred Christian music; no show tunes or pop music, since a funeral is an act of worship of God;

3: No eulogies are permitted in the Basilica, before, during or after the funeral Mass;

4: Neither receptions lines nor the signing of a guest book either before or after the funeral Mass will be permitted in the Basilica. Both receiving lines and guest books are more appropriate at the wake the night before, or at the reception following the funeral Mass;

5: The Basilica stipend schedule is as follows for all funerals:

Basilica: $300.00

Organist: $300.00

Priest: $200.00

These stipends should be provided by the funeral home to the priest-celebrant of the funeral at the wake or before the funeral Mass begins. If the family is unable to provide these stipends due to family financial difficulties, please inform the priest beforehand so some other arrangement might be made;

6: Likewise, a clergy record with personal information about the deceased should be given to the priest before the Mass begins.