Funeral Mass and burial are corporal and spiritual works of mercy for the deceased. The best gift to a loved one who has passed on is to pray, and the greatest prayer we have is the prayer of Jesus Christ with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
"At the death of a Christian, whose life of faith was begun in the waters of Baptism and strengthened at the Eucharistic table, the Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased because of its confident belief that death is not the end, nor does it break the bonds forged in life. 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." (Order of Christian Funerals, no. 4)
If a loved one has passed away and you are already working with a mortuary, please inform the mortuary that you would like to schedule a funeral Mass at St. Mary Parish. The Mortuary will contact the parish office to get the funeral Mass scheduled. Once the funeral Mass has been scheduled, the family will be assigned a comforter, a person who will guide the family through the entire process and assist in preparing the liturgy for the Mass.
Funeral Masses and Memorial Masses take place Monday-Friday at 10am. If you have any questions or would like to get more information, please contact the parish office 760-745-1611
Funeral Scheduling
To schedule a funeral, please contact the front office at 760-745-1611
Funeral Readings
Please select a reading from the 1st Reading and the 2nd Reading below. If the family is providing a lector, they are required to wear church-appropriate attire (men = tie and jacket preferably; women = modest dress or skirt and blouse).
Suggested Funeral Readings
The Scriptures appropriate for use at Catholic Funeral Liturgy are in a booklet entitled, "Through Death to Life," by Joseph M. Champlin. You will be offered one of these booklets when you meet with Bereavement Committee planning the funeral. From this booklet, you may select the prayers of the Mass. For your convenience, the list of readings follow.
Readings for the Liturgy of the Word for the Rite of Christian Burial are divided into three parts: a selection from the Old Testament; a selection from the New Testament; and a Gospel.
During the Easter Season, the Church offers a separate set of New Testament readings that replace the Old Testament readings used outside of the Easter season.
Click on the reading to review it before making your selection. After you have decided, make one selection from each the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Although the priest celebrant has the final word on which Gospel will be read, you may request a favorite Gospel from the list provided.
