Catholic Funeral Mass Order of Service Template

The order of service

1. 01Prelude music

   15 min before

   Instrumental or choral music as people are seated. Often begins 15 to 20 minutes before the stated start time.

2. 02Reception of the body and greeting

   The priest greets the casket or urn at the church door, sprinkles it with holy water, and the pall is placed by family members.

3. 03Entrance procession and hymn

   The casket is brought forward accompanied by the entrance hymn. Common choices include "Song of Farewell," "Be Not Afraid," and "Amazing Grace."

4. 04Opening prayer

   The collect, prayed by the priest.

5. 05First reading

   Usually from the Old Testament, or from Acts or Revelation during the Easter season. Read by a family member or friend.

6. 06Responsorial psalm

   Sung or recited. Psalm 23 ("The Lord is my shepherd") and Psalm 27 are the most frequently chosen.

7. 07Second reading

   From the New Testament letters. Romans 8 and 1 Corinthians 15 are common.

8. 08Gospel acclamation and Gospel

   Proclaimed by the priest or deacon. The congregation stands.

9. 09Homily

   5 to 10 min

   A short reflection by the priest, not a eulogy.

10. 10General intercessions

    Prayers of the faithful, often read by a family member, with the congregation responding.

11. 11Liturgy of the Eucharist

    20 to 25 min

    Presentation of the gifts, Eucharistic prayer, the Lord's Prayer, sign of peace, and Communion. Communion hymns are sung during distribution.

12. 12Words of remembrance

    3 to 5 min

    One brief remembrance by a family member, if the parish permits it. Many parishes limit this to a single speaker and about three to five minutes, and some place it at the vigil instead.

13. 13Final commendation and song of farewell

    Incensing and sprinkling of the casket, with the congregation singing the song of farewell.

14. 14Recessional

    The casket is accompanied out, followed by the family. The recessional hymn is often the most personal music choice of the service.

15. 15Rite of committal

    10 to 15 min

    At the cemetery or columbarium, usually brief, with prayers and a final blessing.

Program wording you can copy

Replace the bracketed prompts with your own details. Every block below is free to copy and use.

In Loving Memory of
[Full Name]
[Birth date] – [Date of death]

Funeral Mass
[Parish name]
[City, State]
[Date] at [time]

Celebrant: [Rev. Name]
Deacon: [Name]
Music: [Organist and cantor names]

First Reading — [Citation]
read by [Name], [relationship]

Pallbearers
[Name] · [Name] · [Name]
[Name] · [Name] · [Name]

Honorary Pallbearers
[Names]

The family invites you to join them for a luncheon in [hall name] immediately following the committal.

The family of [Name] wishes to thank you for your prayers and kindness during this time.

How this fits on a folded program

A standard funeral program is a single sheet folded once, giving four panels. Here is where each part usually goes.

• Front cover: photograph, full name, birth and death dates, parish, and service date
• Inside left: the order of the Mass with readings, psalm, and hymn titles
• Inside right: obituary or life summary, and the family's acknowledgement
• Back cover: pallbearers, reception details, donation information, and a closing prayer

Practical notes

• Ask the parish whether eulogies are permitted at the Mass. Many restrict remembrances to the vigil or to a single short speaker before the final commendation.
• Hymn selections usually need approval from the parish music director. Secular songs are generally not permitted inside the Mass but are common at the vigil or reception.
• Confirm whether the Mass is a Funeral Mass or a Memorial Mass. A Memorial Mass takes place without the body present and omits the reception of the body.
• Print the readings by citation rather than in full unless your parish permits reproducing the text, which may involve copyright permissions.

Questions families ask

How long is a Catholic funeral Mass?

A full funeral Mass generally runs 60 to 75 minutes. A funeral liturgy outside of Mass, sometimes called a funeral service without Communion, usually runs 30 to 40 minutes. Add 10 to 15 minutes for the committal at the cemetery, plus travel time between locations.

Can we have a eulogy at a Catholic funeral?

Practice varies by parish and diocese. Many allow one brief remembrance of three to five minutes before the final commendation, and many prefer that longer tributes take place at the vigil or the reception. Ask the parish directly, and ask early, because it affects your program layout.

What readings are usually chosen?

Common selections include Wisdom 3:1-9 or Isaiah 25 for the first reading, Psalm 23 or Psalm 27 for the responsorial psalm, Romans 8 or 1 Corinthians 15 for the second reading, and John 14:1-6 or Matthew 11:25-30 for the Gospel. Your parish will have a booklet of approved options for families to choose from.