Funeral Information

General Information


The Order of Christian Funerals is a three-part ritual, with Vigil (viewing), Funeral Mass and Rite of Committal (internment). It is encouraged that the Funeral Rites be conducted in the presence of the body of the deceased. This practice is most in accord with the sacred principles and rituals of the Christian Faith. However, the Mass of Christian Burial may also be celebrated with the cremains present in the church.

Scheduling

Please contact the mortuary of your choice to begin the necessary arrangements. The mortuary will contact the parish Funeral Coordinator, Ms. Marie Fogle 480-488-2229 mfogle@oloj.org to schedule a time for the Mass or Service. As a general rule, the Funeral Mass for a Catholic is celebrated in his or her parish of registration. Once the date and time have been determined, a priest or a staff member will contact you and schedule an appointment to meet. At the meeting, the priest or staff member will provide you with a selection of music and readings appropriate for the occasion, as well as answer any questions you may have about the Funeral Mass.

The Vigil for the Deceased
The Vigil is usually celebrated at the mortuary. The parish will arrange for a priest or a delegated lay minister to be present and assist with a Rosary or Scripture Service. The mortuary will be able to assist you with any special musical selections or photographic DVD memorials that you wish to play at the Vigil. The Vigil Service is the most appropriate time for a reflection or eulogy, sharing of stories, etc., as opposed to taking place at the Funeral Mass. The priest or deacon or delegated lay minister will facilitate this at the family's request.

Funeral Mass

Funeral Masses are ordinarily celebrated on weekdays Monday through Wednesday at or after 10am. We will do our best to accommodate family needs based on priest availability. For the Funeral Mass, Christian symbols (cross, bible, scapular, etc.) may be placed on the casket at the beginning of the Funeral Mass. All secular items, such flags or Medals of Honor are important, but not part of the Funeral Mass. These secular and important symbols are removed at the church door and a pall is placed over the casket. This symbolizes our unity in Christ through our baptism. Christian symbols are only used within a church. Flowers may be placed in the church. Photos and other items are normally displayed in the vestibule area with the Book of Remembrance. A small table can be placed in the front of the altar for the cremains. Some families choose to have a picture and or flowers on the table with the urn.

Memorial Donations

Families often request donations to specific funds in memory of their deceased. 
If you would like to make a memorial donation, please contact the parish office at 480-488-2229 and ask to speak with Mrs. Pam Wade our director of finance. pwade@oloj.org

Are Catholics allowed to be cremated?

Yes, however, any scattering of the cremains is not permitted, because of the reverence due the bodies and remains of the bodies of those who have been baptized and have been temples of the Holy Spirit. Care should be taken that the cremated remains of the deceased are accorded proper respect through interment in blessed cemetery ground, or in a mausoleum or columbarium. 


In March of 1997, the Holy See gave an indult; a relaxation of the law of practice, to the Bishops of the United States of America. In the Code of Canon Law for us as Roman Catholics, the indult coincides with what is stated. Cremation has been permitted since 1963 and incorporated into the Code of Canon Law in 1983; however burial of the body of the deceased has always been the preferable practice as a corporal work of mercy. The indult states, “In conformity with canon 1176, § 3 the custom of according burial to the bodies of the deceased is to be commended and encouraged.”


“If, however, the family of the deceased or the power of attorney of the deceased request that the body be cremated or if this is required by the civil authorities, the funeral may nevertheless be celebrated liturgically, provided that the cremation is not undertaken for motives in opposition to Christian doctrine (canon 1176, § 3). Again, the Church’s Code of Canon Law states here that, the Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom of burying the bodies of the deceased be observed; nevertheless, the Church does not prohibit cremation unless it was chosen for reasons contrary to Christian doctrine.” 



The funeral itself seeks to spiritually support the family of the deceased as well as the deceased by honoring their body, as the body of our Good Lord was honored and cared for. At the same time, the Church intends to give solace of hope to the living. 



It is preferred that the funeral liturgy take place in the presence of the body of the deceased prior to its cremation. However, as stated, it is permitted to have a Funeral Mass with ashes present. The human person and the dignity given him or her by God is cherished by the Church, as well as the Parish and Pastor of Our Lady of Joy Catholic Church of Phoenix. It is very important that the cremated body be accorded proper respect as befits the dignity of the human person and of baptized Christians. Why does the Church prefer the burial of the actual body of the deceased?

The Church has always held a preference for corporeal body. The body of a deceased loved one forcefully brings to mind the mystery of life and death and our belief that our human bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and destined for future glory at the resurrection of the dead. In addition, the body, which lies in death, recalls the personal story of faith, the past relationships, and the continued spiritual presence of the deceased. This is the body once washed in baptism, anointed with the oil of salvation, and fed with the bread of life. This is the body whose hands clothed the poor and embraced the sorrowing. The human body is so inextricably associated with the human person that it is hard to think of a human person apart from his or her body. Thus, the Church's reverence and care for the body grows out of a reverence and concern for the person whom the Church now commends to the care of God. The Order of Christian Funerals reflects a theology and a tradition in which burial of the body has been the principal manner of final disposition of the body. The long-standing practice of burying the body of the deceased in a grave or tomb as was Jesus continues to be encouraged as a sign of Christian faith. However, owing to contemporary cultural interaction, the practice of cremation has become part of Catholic practice in the United States and other parts of the western world. Disposition of the bodies of deceased Catholics by means of cremation is a fairly recent development. The 1917 Code of Canon Law forbade the practice, and this prohibition continued until 1963. (Change of law does not mean a change in teaching; rather it may be an acceptance of practice.) While making allowance for cremation (as long as it was not chosen as a sign of denial of Christian teaching) the 1963 instruction Piam et Constantem issued by the Holy Office urged that "the practice of burying the bodies of the faithful is by all means to be kept." This 1963 concession is provided for in the 1969 Ordo Exsequiarum, the Latin edition of the revised Catholic funeral ritual and was later incorporated into the 1983 Code of Canon Law in canon 1176: "The Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom of burying the bodies of the dead be observed; it does not, however, forbid cremation unless it has been chosen for reasons which are contrary to Christian teaching." Although cremation is now permitted it does not enjoy the same value as burial of the body. Catholic teaching continues to stress the preference for burial of the body of the deceased. Likewise, the Church clearly prefers and urges that the body of the deceased be present for its funeral rites, since the presence of the human body better expresses the values, which the Church affirms in its rites. Sensitive to the economic, geographic, ecological, or family factors which on occasion make the cremation of a body the only feasible choice, however, the Administrative Committee of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops has recommended that the entire body of bishops request an indult from the Holy See permitting the presence of cremated remains during the full course of Catholic Funeral rites. Likewise, the Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy has directed the Secretariat for the Liturgy to begin the preparation of additional rites and texts for the Order of Christian Funerals to provide for the presence of the remains of the cremated body.