Funerals

“Lord, for your faithful people life is changed, not ended. When the body of our earthly dwelling lies in death we gain an everlasting dwelling place in heaven.”

- Preface for Christian Death I (P77) Excerpt from the English translation of the Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. (ICEL). All rights reserved.

Scheduling a Funeral

To schedule a Funeral or Memorial Mass at Holy Spirit, please call our parish office at (317) 849-9245. We will do our best to accommodate your preferred date, but final scheduling is dependent on the parish calendar and availability of staff and priests.

Visitations at Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit is able to host visitations for up to two hours prior to a Funeral Mass. Certain days and times may not be available due to parish events and Masses. Please speak with a Pastoral Associate for more information.

Pre-planning for Funerals

If you are interested in pre-planning your Funeral Mass, please contact one of our Pastoral Associates at (317) 585-1257 to schedule an appointment. Materials for preplanning can be found below in the “Planning the Mass” section.

Considering Cremation?

"Although cremation is now permitted by the Church, it does not enjoy the same value as burial of the body. The Church clearly prefers and urges that the body of the deceased be present for the funeral rites, since the presence of the human body better expresses the values which the Church affirms in those rites” (Order of Christian Funerals no. 413).  

When someone is cremated, the cremated remains MUST be buried or interred in their entirety in a blessed and permanent cemetery or columbarium. Ashes may not be scattered, divided or kept at home. When contacting the parish to plan a funeral, you will need to indicate the plan and location for the interment of the cremated remains.  

Cremated remains may be brought to Church for the Funeral Mass, although the rituals and prayers will be adapted for the Funeral Mass.  

Planning the Mass

Planning for all funerals and Memorial Masses at Holy Spirit is assisted by our Pastoral Associates. They will prepare all materials needed for the Mass and the funeral program.

We recommend that music be coordinated by our Director of Liturgy, who will arrange for musicians to be present. If you are interested in using outside musicians, a consultation is required with one of our parish staff. Sacred music should be used for any services in the Church and Chapel.

Planning Materials

• Funeral Planning Guide for Families (Print, Complete, Return (pdf)   or   Funeral Planning Guide for Families (online)
• Recommended Readings (pdf)
• Common Hymns and Psalms (pdf)
• Sample Program (pdf)
• Intercesions (pdf)

Funeral Meals
Holy Spirit has a funeral luncheon ministry which provides meals to families following funeral services. Contact one of our Pastoral Associates for details.

Donations and Fees
There is no fee for hosting a funeral Mass.  However, many families choose to make an offering to the parish in honor of the deceased. It is also customary to offer an honorarium to the priest.
There are fixed fees for music at the funeral (although these fees can be adjusted in cases of need). .

For questions or more information, please contact one of the
Pastoral Associates at 317-585-1257.