Catholic Services

After the death of a loved one who was a Catholic, the family may choose to offer them a traditional service. If that is the case and you have never been to this type of service before, you may not be sure if you should go to the service. It can be beneficial for everyone to attend the service of a loved one. If that is something that you are considering, you want to be certain that you know what to expect from this type of service. Here are some things that directors of funeral homes in Rochester, PA want you to remember.

A Catholic service tends to have three parts. The first part is the viewing or wake, and it involves people gathering together to honor the life of the person. People recite the rosary and speak of their loved one and offer each other comfort. This is something that you should definitely attend because it could help with getting closure. After that comes the funeral mass. The funeral mass takes place in the church where the person received sacraments during life. The casket is brought in with a procession and the priest blesses it. After the mass, the casket is taken to the place of burial where there will be a graveside service.

Keep in mind that Catholic services are very somber occasions. You want to wear something appropriate so that you do not offend anyone. They focus on the death of the person and on the religious significance of that death, so you want to pay attention to the service and follow their traditions. There will be times when you are asked to kneel or stand. It is respectful to do this through the service.

Another thing that you want to remember is that you should send the family a sympathy gift. That is something that can let them know that you are thinking about them and that you offer them your condolences. One choice that many people turn to is sympathy cars. Sympathy cards are perfect because they can really allow you to express yourself in a meaningful manner. You can also opt for flowers. If you want to send the family flowers, do be sure to do so through a florist and include a note.

These are all important things you want to consider when getting ready to attend a Catholic service for a loved one. It is an option that can allow you to grieve the person and to honor them as they would have wanted to be honored. If you are not sure about attending a Catholic service or if you want to know more about all of this, you can reach out to a Rochester, PA funeral home like us. We are here to answer all of the questions we have about this and much more, so do not hesitate to contact us. You can give us a call right now or you can visit us today to speak with one of our many experts.