- Funeral timings are 9 am and 4 pm and 4 am on weekdays and at 3 pm on Sundays at Oshiwara cemetery. Kindly pick up the priest from the Church at 8.30 am / 3.30 pm if the body is to be blessed at home.
- Upon the death of a loved one, only a family member must contact the priest in the parish before fixing the date and time of the funeral. If the deceased has no one then the community leader or any responsible person should do the same. Do not ask the undertaker to do this.
- Kindly get a Xerox copy of the municipal death certificate for our parish records.
- Cremation is permitted. The Church prefers to have the body present for the funeral rites and then have the cremation afterwards. The necessary documentation must be in order.
- In accordance with Catholic teaching, the funeral service for a Catholic consists of three parts:
- First Station : In the home of the deceased
- Second Station : Mass in the Church followed by the Rite of Final Commendation and Farewell.
- Third Station : At the grave or tomb followed by burial
- The Oshiwara Chapel is available for Mass and the funeral rites especially for those who are staying far from the Church or are on the borders of the parish. It would be advisable to make use of the Cemetry Chapel.
- The minister of a funeral is priest or deacon. No other person, however important, should take the role of a priest / deacon. The instructions of the minister have to be strictly followed during the entire funeral service.
- The practice of putting limestone (chuna) in the coffin of the dead is not liturgical. In case it is done, then only the family members should come forward and not hordes of people. This will only delay the burial.
- Paying a last tribute / respect to the dead can be done at home or at the cemetery. No condolences in the Church. Please do not waste time in the Church doing this as the body has to be taken to Oshiwara for burial. For burial in other cemeteries, all the last rites will be done in our Church.
- In case of outside priests officiating at the funeral service, the family should inform the Parish Priest about the same. The guest priest must strictly follow the guidelines formulated by the parish and not do his own thing.
