Catholic funeral program template — for a Mass of Christian Burial

The order of a Mass of Christian Burial

Most funeral Masses follow the same shape, and a program usually sets it out under four headings. The Introductory Rites: the reception of the body at the door, the sprinkling with holy water and placing of the pall, the entrance hymn and opening prayer. The Liturgy of the Word: a first reading, often from the Old Testament, a responsorial psalm, a second reading from the New Testament, the Gospel and the homily, followed by the prayers of the faithful. The Liturgy of the Eucharist: the presentation of the gifts, the Eucharistic prayer, the Lord's Prayer, the sign of peace and Communion. The Final Commendation: the prayer of commendation, the song of farewell, and the procession to the place of committal.

The parish will confirm the exact order and which parts the family may choose; wording varies between dioceses and between a full funeral Mass and a funeral liturgy outside Mass. We are not a religious authority, and nothing here replaces the guidance of your priest or parish. Enter the order as the parish gives it to you; the sections are yours to name and fill.

Readings families often choose

Families are usually invited to choose the readings and the psalm from a list the parish provides. Among the most often chosen are Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd"; John 14:1–6, "In my Father's house there are many dwelling places"; Romans 8:31–39, "Nothing can separate us from the love of God"; and from the Old Testament, Wisdom 3:1–9, "The souls of the just are in the hand of God". The program can print the reference and the reader's name under each heading, or the opening line of the reading so guests recognize it. The verse library has these and other passages ready to paste; check the wording against the translation your parish uses.

Guests who are not Catholic appreciate a short note on when to stand, sit and kneel, and a line explaining that Communion is received by Catholics while others are welcome to come forward for a blessing. Many families add this to the back page.

The holy card, and the rest of the stationery

A memorial prayer card — the holy card handed out at the vigil and the Mass — is the piece most Catholic families want alongside the program. The front carries the photo, name and dates; the back a prayer, which may be one the person loved, the Prayer of St. Francis, or a few lines from the psalm. The cards print six to a sheet and cut apart cleanly. Bookmarks serve the same purpose in a larger format and are often placed in the missalettes. Guidance on printing both the program and the cards, at home or through a shop, is in how to print a funeral program.