The Funeral & Bereavement Ministry supports grieving families in their time of sorrow and loss. We strive to ensure that the Funeral Rites are a beautiful, prayerful occasion in which to give thanks for the life of the deceased and commend them to God’s infinite, loving care.
Contact Information
Sacred Heart - 617-969-2248
Our Lady Help of Christians - 617-527-7560
Here is a useful pamphlet for when a loved one is sick, nearing the end of their life, or has died. It was featured as a bulletin insert in November 2019 and again in October 2022. What Do I Do Now?
Before the funeral - A lay minister meets with the family to assist in the selection of the Readings and Music and to identify family members who will participate in the service. This person will answer any questions and otherwise assist in planning the Mass.
Music - Music selections must be appropriate for a Catholic funeral. The Music Director is happy to make the selections if the family has no particular requests. Participation in the Mass by other musicians needs to be worked out directly with the Music Director beforehand.
Wake and Burial Services - A member of the Pastoral Staff will attend and offer brief prayers with the family. If the burial takes place immediately after the funeral, he or she will also accompany the family to the cemetery to lead graveside prayers.
Funeral Mass - Members of the Funeral & Bereavement Ministry will be at the church to support and assist at the Funeral Mass. They will offer guidance and direction throughout the Mass and will assist the priest as needed.
Gathering: The Funeral Mass begins in the gathering area. After the Opening Prayer, the casket is sprinkled with holy water and the Pall (white garment) is spread over the casket, recalling Baptism. Family members are invited to help spread the Pall.
Liturgy of the Word: There are three readings from Sacred Scripture. The text of the readings can be found at the bottom of this page. A lay minister will help the family select readings. The family may select two people to proclaim the First and Second Readings. Usually the First Reading is from the Old Testament, and the Second Reading is from the New Testament. If the family does not have lectors, a minister is available to proclaim the readings. The Gospel is always proclaimed by the priest.
Prayers of the Faithful: The Prayers of the Faithful are usually written and read by a member of the Pastoral Staff. If the family wishes to write and/or read the prayers, this can be discussed during the lay minister visit with the family.
Offertory/Gifts Procession: At the Offertory, family members are invited to bring forward the bread and wine that are to be consecrated. There are usually 2 or 3 gifts. This is a good place for children to participate in the Mass.
Liturgical Ministers: If there are members of the family who regularly serve as Liturgical Ministers in their home parishes, they are welcome to serve at the funeral.
Eulogy: The Eulogy is an optional part of the funeral, where a family member or good friend of the deceased pays loving tribute and provides a glimpse of their life and Christian character. There should be only one Eulogist, and he/she should speak only for 3-5 minutes. Please see our "Guidelines for Preparing a Eulogy" for more details.
A Memorial Mass is held twice each year at Our Lady's (late May and early November) and once each year at Sacred Heart (early November), where the recently deceased are remembered in a special way.
The Sacred Heart & Our Lady's Collaborative also offers a Bereavement Support Group program. Please contact the Parish Offices for more info.
Follow this link for a list of suggested funeral music, as of August 2020 (choose up to four)
Follow this link for suggested Psalms (choose one)