St. Isidore Parish, Stow, MA
Preparing for Funeral Mass
4/14/2009
Pall, holy water, candle, rite book:
Pall is usually hanging up in the vestment closet, to the right. Leave it folded and put on back of last pew on the rectory side.
Put either the silver shell in the top rightmost drawer or, (more usually) the holy water sprinkler from the top shelf of the middle cabinet, for sprinkling holy water on the casket, on the rim of the baptismal font.
If it is not the Easter season, bring the Easter candle up from the back and stand it on the altar near the front edge, lined up with the left edge of the altar (looking towards the altar from the pews) and light it.
The Rite (Order of Christian Funerals) book is usually in the left or 2nd to left upper cabinet.
Altar:
The following should be placed on the credence table (the small table back by the wall):
· Bowl for the washing of the hands, with the pitcher 2/3 full and a hand towel.
(Stored to the right of the sink on the bottom shelf of the side table)
· 1 glass communion plate (stored in the right most upper cabinet) if there will be a deacon or a second priest or an Extraordinary Minister of Communion
· Gold chalice (stored in the middle upper cabinet; key for which is kept in the bottom middle upper drawer).
· 2 purificators (kept in the upper drawer marked purificators)
· Water cruet filled ¾ full with stopper (stored on top of table to the right of the sink)
· If communion will be distributed only under the species of bread, then put out a small cruet with a small amount of wine. If communion will be distributed under both species see Gifts below, and if there will be two cup stations put out one of the crystal chalices (same cabinet as communion plates)
· Light the two altar candles (bring from back if they are not up front).
Tabernacle:
Key is hung on first nail on the left in the middle upper cabinet.
Open tabernacle and check the reserved hosts. Leave key in tabernacle during mass.
Gifts:
Usually the gifts are put on one of the small tables brought up from behind the last pew and put in front of the first pew on the organ side.
Take one glass plate from rightmost upper cabinet. The objective is to put out enough hosts so that all can receive a host consecrated at this Mass. The large host (5 3/4” in the box in the upper cabinet 2nd from the right breaks into 24 pieces.
If communion is to be distributed under both species, fill the large cruet with wine (stored in the closet outside the sacristy – more bottles are in the boxes on the floor) to about half full.
Readings:
If family has designated readers, they usually read from the copy they bring up with them. If not, you may need to find out where the readings are in the various books.
Incense:
Incensor should be cleaned out and a new charcoal put in it. (they are in the closet right outside the sacristy). The charcoal can be lit right before the funeral starts. The stand with the incensor and the cup of incense should be moved right outside the sacristy to the left of the statue of Mary.
Cleanup:
Drape the pall over the table and chairs to make sure it dries. After an hour or so it can be hung up in the closet.
Leave the incense out until it is completely out and cold. Dump the ashes out into the dirt next to the stairs to the rectory to avoid any chance of fire.
Put out candles. Don't move the Easter candle until the wax has hardened or it can burn you.