1. TOTAL PARISH BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY
Vision and Strategies

2. What We Hope To Learn Together
A better understanding of total parish bereavement ministry
Develop skills to assist in the pastoral care of the sick, dying, and bereaved
Best practices in responding to the family who has just lost a loved one

3. What we hope to learn together -continued
Resources to assist in the preparation of a parishioner’s funeral and activities immediately following
Ways to provide ongoing support for the bereaved
The dynamics of grief and bereavement
How to better respond to the special needs of the bereaved, especially in times of tragedy
How to develop an action plan for total bereavement ministry in your parish.

4. Pastoral Care Anointing of the Sick
Caring for the Dying
Pastoral Care
Anointing of the Sick

5. Pastoral Care caring for the sick, elderly, and dying…corporal works of mercy
Hospital and nursing home visitation
Home visitation – Eucharistic Ministers
Hospice care
Parish Nursing
Friendly Visiting
Whatever you do to the least of my brothers (and sisters)…
Parish outreach to caregivers
Reassurance Calls
Card Ministry
Shawl Ministry

6. Anointing of the Sick Purpose Eliminating misconceptions
Key elements of Ritual
Role of community –
Annual Parish Celebration
Effect on people
Personal Witness

7. James writes—
Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint (him) with oil in the name of the Lord,
and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. (5:14-15)

8. Some Distinctions
Like all the sacraments the Anointing of the Sick is a liturgical and communal celebration, whether it takes place in the family home, a hospital or church, for a single sick person or a whole group of sick persons. It is very fitting to celebrate it within the Eucharist… CCC-1517
Viaticum, the Last Sacrament of the Christian In addition to the Anointing of the Sick, the Church offers those who are about to leave this life the Eucharist as viaticum….CCC 1524

9. Anointing of the Sick
If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person's condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced. CCC 1514

10. Pastoral Care of the Sick: Rites of Anointing and Viaticum
The Lord himself showed great concern for the bodily and spiritual welfare of the sick and commanded his followers to do likewise…
Those who are seriously ill need the special help of God’s grace in this time of anxiety, lest they be broken in spirit… (introduction to rite,#5)

11. The Rite
The priest makes the Sign of the Cross with the blessed oil on the sick person's forehead, saying: "Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit." All respond: "Amen."
Then the priest anoints the palms of the sick one's hands with the Sign of the Cross: " May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up." All respond: "Amen."

12. Pastoral Observations on Communal Anointing of Sick -one pastor’s perspective
Parish Exposure and education to the Sacrament of Anointing
Effect of welcoming back
People experience it as a sacrament of healing, not last rites
Gesture of laying on of hands in silence-powerful sign – congregation involved
Diversity of those who come forward to receive sacrament – different illnesses
Encourages parishioners to pray for all present
Grace of sacrament evident

13. The Death of a Christian
Is the death of a Christian a private event or is it an event that concerns and involves the church?
In the face of death and in the midst of grief, there is work to be done by the community of faith---
the work of consolation and ritual.

14. Order of Christian Funerals General Introduction
At the death of a Christian…the Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased because of its confident belief that death is not the end nor does it bread the bonds forged in life…

15. …The Church also ministers to the sorrowing and consoles them in the funeral rite with the comforting words of God and the sacrament of the Eucharist…
(#4)

16. Ministry and Participation
When Christians are sick, their brothers and sisters share a ministry of mutual charity and “do all that they can to help the sick return to health, by showing love for the sick and by celebrating the sacraments with them.
…So to when a member of Christ’s Body dies,
the faithful are called to a ministry of consolation
to those who have suffered the loss of one
whom they love. #8

17. Community
The responsibility for the ministry of consolation rests with the believing community…
(they) should console the mourners with words of faith and support and with acts of kindness, for example, assisting them with some of the routine tasks of daily living…
…As a minister of reconciliation, the priest should be especially sensitive to the possible needs for reconciliation felt by the family and others…

18. Liturgical Ministers
Priests…preside at the funeral rites, especially the Mass…When no priest is available, deacons, as ministers of the word, of the altar, and of charity, preside at funeral rites. …When no priest or deacon is available for the vigil and related rites or the rite of committal, a layperson presides.
…(the laity) may serve as readers, musicians,
ushers…Family members should be
encouraged to take an active part in these
ministries…

19. Ministry for the Mourners and the Deceased
…in planning and carrying out the funeral rites…(they) should keep in mind the life of the deceased and the circumstances of death….They should also take into consideration the spiritual and psychological needs of the family and friends of the deceased to express grief and their sense of loss, to accept the reality of death, and to comfort one another….
Whenever possible, ministers should involved the family in planning the funeral rites…

20. Deceased
…Christians respect and honor the bodies of the dead and the places where they rest…
…Customs associated with the preparation of the body of the deceased…
It is the ancient Christian custom to bury or entomb the bodies of the dead; cremation is permitted, unless it is evident that cremation was chose for anti-Christian motives.
n.b -- cremation acceptable, cremains must be interred

21. Celebrating the Paschal Mystery

22. Liturgical Elements
…Since liturgical celebration involves the whole person, it requires attentiveness to all that affects the senses…Care must be taken that the choice and use of signs and symbols are in accord with the culture of the people.
Homily…a brief homily based on the readings is always given after the gospel reading…there is never to be a eulogy (in place of the homily).
Music is integral to the funeral rites.

23. Symbols Easter candle and other candles Holy Water Incense
Other Symbols
Pall (reminder of our Baptismal garment)
Book of the Gospels or Bible
Liturgical color (white, purple, black)
Cross
(No national flags in church)

24. Ritual Process Time between death and the central funeral action
Time of the central funeral action
Time after the central funeral action
Vigil and Related Rites
and Prayers
Funeral Liturgy
Rite of Committal
Facing Death Together-Parish
Funerals—Margaret Smith

25. Before and During Vigil and Related Rites
Bereavement team visits and consoles family
Helps out in preparation of viewing and
funeral service
(viewing can be in church or funeral home)
Listens to family tell stories
Helps family prepare memory board for vigil
Provides food for family
Responds to transportation needs
Cares for young children
Helps out at Vigil and assists with prayers

26. Funeral Liturgy Attend funeral Assist family as needed
Assist as liturgical ministers
(see handouts)
Care for young children during service

27. Rite of Committal Attend rite of committal Join with family for meal
Assist in follow up tasks
same day and later

28. Selection of Rites from the Order of Christian Funerals
makes provision for the minister,
in consultation with the
family, to choose those
rites and texts that are
most suitable
to the situation…

29. Resources to consider
Suggested packet for planning funeral liturgy (with pastor’s letter)
Commentary for use during funeral mass
Information sheet for participants at service
Checklist for all involved in funeral ministry
Other:

30. Ministry Teams to Assist
Funeral choir/s
Cantors
Servers
Ushers
hospitality

31. Parish meal or gathering with family Maintain follow up contact
Post- Funeral Support
Parish meal or gathering with family
Maintain follow up contact

32. Times to Remember All Saints Day All Souls Day Anniversary of death
Holidays
Special Masses:
We Are Remembered
Forever In our Hearts
Other:

33. Concluding Prayer Lord God, whose days are without end
and whose mercies beyond counting,
keep us mindful
that life is short and the hour of death unknown.
Let your Spirit guide our days on earth
in the ways of holiness and justice,
that we may serve you
in union with the whole Church.
sure in faith,strong in hope, perfected in love.
And when our earthly journey is ended,
lead us rejoicing into your kingdom.
where you live for ever and ever.
Amen.