We have only touched on some of the positive aspects of

The Catholic Funeral PlanSM

This unique program was designed to ease the financial burden for families, and to make sure a person’s final wishes for their funeral are known and

are guided by the pastoral care of the Church.

Please contact us to learn more about how beneficial this service is, and receive a complimentary Estate Planning Guide.

www.rcbo.orgwww.cemeteries.rcbo.org

Holy Sepulcher CemeteryOrange (714) 532-6551

Good Shepherd CemeteryHuntington Beach (714) 847-8546

Ascension CemeteryLake Forest (949) 837-1331

The Catholic Funeral PlanSM

has been designed to benefit Catholic families.

Approved by the Diocese of Orange

Your

BELIEFSYour

WISHESYour

FAITH

ProvidingThe Answers

& The Means

Keeping consistent with your Catholic beliefs, it is important for family members to clearly record their wishes for a Catholicfuneral service. This entails severalelements such as which Mortuary to use, where the Vigil will be held,prayers to be said at the Vigil, theFuneral Mass and the CommittalService, music, flowers, and wherethe person would like their finalresting place to be.

All of these decisions can be determined andarranged now, in the comfort of your own home,without the need to rush or make rash decisions.

HONORING YOUR WISHES & YOURCATHOLIC HERITAGE

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Preserving your final

wishes in a dignified

and caring way is the

intention of Catholic

Funeral PlanSM. We

understand first hand the

duress families go through when a loved one dies,

and the pressure families feel when trying to arrange

a funeral the deceased person would have wanted –

a funeral that incorporates their Catholic heritage.

The Plan eliminates the questions and concerns

family members face at this most difficult time.

The Three ComponentsThe complete Funeral Liturgy is divided into three parts:

• The Vigil for the Deceased• The Funeral Liturgy (Mass)• The Rite of Committal / Farewell

The Vigil takes place between the time of death andthe Funeral Mass. This Rite is presided over by apriest, deacon or prepared layperson. It’s a timewhen family and friends gather to reflect upon thatperson’s life, and to express their own feelings. TheVigil is usually held in a Mortuary, or in the sameChurch where the Funeral Mass will be held. Thisservice consists of prayers and Scripture readings.The Rosary, or a portion of it, may be included inthe service. The Vigil is typically held the day orevening before the funeral.

The Funeral Liturgy is the principal celebration of the funeral. Some of the symbolic actions that are incorporated in the liturgy include draping of a white pall over the casket signifying the person’sbaptism, placing of the Easter Candle at the foot of the casket or the urn, and sprinkling of holywater on the casket or urn.

The Rite of Committal is the last of the FuneralRites. This Rite consists of a Scripture reading andshort prayers lead by a priest, deacon or preparedlayperson. The Committal Service is celebrated nearthe final resting place of the deceased person suchas the gravesite, mausoleum or cemetery chapel.

The Funeral Liturgy and the FamilyAt a time when our society is becoming more secularized, the Funeral Liturgy is as meaningful to the living as it is to the dead. It reflects our wishes as Catholics to preserve our faith. It revealsboth our belief and love of God, and our trust in the resurrection to come and shows in no uncertainterms the love that God has for us.

Protection from Inflation. Many Catholic families are concerned about the cost ofinflation when it comes to funeral services. The cost of afuneral has exceeded the cost of inflation for the last sev-eral years, and this disturbing trend doesn’t seem to beeasing. The Catholic Funeral PlanSM was designed toeliminate this problem by protecting your family fromthe inevitable higher future funeral costs. In many cases,families have quickly received a refund of monies notspent for the funeral. Few funeral plans offer this benefit.

You know where your funds are, you can make changesas necessary, and you know how your funds are growing.

Is my money safe with the Catholic FuneralPlanSM? Yes. Unlike other organizations that may be here todayand gone tomorrow, you know exactly where your fundsare and how much they are worth.

Do you offer payment plans? Yes. There are many options available that can meet your budget.

How will my wishes be followed? With the Plan, you final wishes will be recordedand they will be made available when the timearises. It is recommended that you review anyspecial requests with your parish priest to deter-mine what is best. Your family will have all ofthe information that they need to finalize thedetails of your funeral with the Mortuary. Yourfamily will not need to worry about any of thesedecisions because you had taken the time tomake your wishes known. You do not have toworry that you will not be provided the fullliturgical options available from the CatholicChurch, options that are as important to you asyour faith itself.

What if I change my mind about mychoices, or if I move?You are in complete control of your funeralplans. Whether you decide to use a differentMortuary, or wish to change a scripture readingor hymn in the funeral liturgy, just contact usand we’ll make the necessary adjustments. It’sthat easy.

For Christians, the Rite of Christian Burial bringshope and consolation to the living.

While proclaiming the Gospel

of Jesus Christ and witnessing

to the Christian hope in the

resurrection, the complete funeral rites also

recall to bereaved families God’s mercy and

love and meet the human need to turn always

to God in times of crisis. As Catholics, we want

to guarantee that our Catholic beliefs are rec-

ognized and honored when it comes to our final

wishes, but unfortunately, many faithful and

devoted Catholics are not aware of what these

Rites are and how they should be celebrated.

This pamphlet was created to help explain the

components of a Catholic burial, and steps you

can take to make your wishes known.

As in Baptism we became a member ofthe Catholic Church family – in death wepreserve our faith, our Catholic rites, andour unquestioning beliefs in God: Father,Son and Holy Spirit.

“I am not dying; I am entering life.”St. Therese of Lisieux, The Last Conversations

Approved by the Diocese of Orange

“The Catholic Funeral PlanSM insures theliturgical rights of every Catholic when it comes to their final needs. This servicepreserves the rites and the burial customsof the Catholic Church.”

The Most Reverend Tod D. BrownBishop of Orange

F R E Q U E N T L Y A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S

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