Rite of Funeral.

GUIDELINES FOR FUNERAL SERVICES TO BE HELD AT OUR LADY OF
VICTORIES MAHIM
1. Introduction:
The Catholic Funeral Rites, as found in the Order of Christian Funerals (1989), are
celebrations that enable the Christian community to mourn as well as to hope by
focusing on the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Catholics believe
that at death "Life is changed, not ended."
Death is a passage to a new and fuller life, and ultimately to resurrection and eternal
union with God. The Church through its funeral rites commend the dead to God's
merciful love and pleads for the forgiveness of their sins. The celebration of the
Christian funeral brings hope and consolation to the living.
The entire funeral service is a one continuous rite.
2. General Guidelines:
1. Upon the death of a loved one only a family member must contact the priest
in the parish before fixing the date and the time of the funeral and before
meeting the undertaker .
Do NOT ask the undertaker to do the same, he will not be entertained.
2. A family member should contact the parish office for the location of the
grave. If you have a permanent grave carry the card with the family name and
number of the grave.
3. Kindly get a photocopy (Xerox) of the Municipal death certificate for our
parish record.
4. Let the funeral be simple and prayerful. The church  discourages band and lavish spending.
5. The funeral Mass is held at Our Lady of Victories Church. The burial
depends whether the family has submitted the duly filled Parish Census form.
If the name of the deceased person is verified in the Parish Census the burial
rite will take place in the Church cemetery.
6. If an unbaptised child or an unbaptized adult living with Catholic parents
expires there will only be burial and no funeral Mass will take place. The
same is applicable to unborn/still born babies.
7. The minister of the funeral is a Priest/Deacon. No other person however
important should take the role of a Priest/ Deacon. The instructions of the
minister have to be strictly followed at home, in the church and at the
cemetery during Burial.
8. The practice of putting limestone (chuna) into the coffin of the dead is not
liturgical and also not meaningful custom. This can be avoided.. The
Bereaved can drop a handful of mud in the grave soon after the coffin is
lowered in the grave. The practice of people coming forward to put limestone
into the coffin and throwing flower petals in the grave is unnecessary and
uncalled for.
9. Since burial immediately follows the Rite of the Final Commendation and

Farewell in the church time, should not be wasted in paying a last
tribute/respect to the dead in the cemetery. This can be done at home or while
the coffin is being carried to the cemetery.
10. If a family would like to invite a priest or a deacon from another parish to
preside at any of the funeral rites, they are most welcome. However, the
family must inform the priests in the parish about the same. The guest priests
should strictly follow the guidelines formulated by the parish.
11. A prior permission should be obtained from the Parish Priest before any work
is undertaken in the cemetery.
The funeral Mass timings are as follows: 09.00 am and 04.00 pm (Monday to
Saturday) on Sunday 11.00 am and 04.00pm.
3. Guidelines for the Funeral Service and Liturgy:
On days when funeral Masses are not permitted, funeral rites on these days make use of
a Liturgy of the Word, as found in the Order of Christian Funerals. The funeral liturgy
should be discussed and prepared with the help of the priests of the parish.
The funeral Masses are not celebrated on Solemnities, Holy Thursday, Good Friday
and Holy Saturday. 
4. Guidelines for Eulogies:
A eulogy is a short tribute to the life of the deceased loved one, offered by a family
member or close personal friend, who knew the deceased well. A eulogy is not part of
the funeral Mass. If a eulogy is to be given at the Funeral Liturgy it must follow the
prayer after Communion.
According to the Guidelines sent by Bishop Bosco Penha in the Circular titled
"Liturgical Renewal" dated 4th August 2009, there should be only ONE tribute/eulogy
and a brief word of thanks. Only one member of the family can express the sentiments
and thank the people after communion. The celebrant should be informed of this before
the Mass begins.
5. Cremation:
While the Church recommends that the custom of burying the bodies of the dead be
observed, cremation is permitted.
The Church prefers to have the body present for the funeral rites and then have
cremation afterwards. In 1963 the Vatican lifted the ban, allowing cremation provided
the reasons for choosing it did not counter Christian belief.
Care for Creation – Say No to Coffin:
Keeping in mind the rising cost of coffins and the long time it takes for the body to
decompose, it is advisable that coffins are not used for burial.
The alternative to a coffin is to be buried in a shroud.
The body is wrapped in a cloth and then buried in the grave.
This has its advantages, the body decomposes faster, you save ecology and it is
economical.
The choice is given to the person. Those who would be buried in the shroud or
cremated should express their desire to the family or put it in writing.

If you wish to bury your dead in a shroud and need the common coffin, you may
contact the Parish office.

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Guidelines for Church Cemetries
Rules and regulations from Archbishop's house dated 24-11-1988
1. Cemetery is primarily meant for the parishoners of the Church.
2. No new permanent graves to be allotted or given from 1-1-1989.
3. No person shall without the written permission of the parish priest put up in
the burial grounds any tombstone, slabs, monuments, masonry structure or
any type of permanent or temporary mark showing the position of any grave.
4. A grave may be opened with necessary permission and the remains to be
transferred to a niche or permanent grave after one and a half years / two
years after the burial at the cost of the party desiring to open the grave.
5. The remains of the deceased buried in temporary graves have to be removed
by the relatives of the deceased within one month after the expiry of 2 (two)
years after burial failing which the remains will be disposed off by the parish
authorities in the usual manner and the grave utilised for another burial.
6. The use of teak-wood or metal lined coffins is not permitted for burial in the
temporary graves.
7. All graves markings like crosses etc. shall be removed at the time of the next
burial in the temporary grave and shall not be restored thereafter.
8. Hour of funeral shall be from 9.00am to 12.00 noon; and from 4.00pm to
6.00pm. The timing has to be I fixed by the parish priest and conducted only
during the I hours of day light.
9. Remarks at the time of transfers to be entered at the burial register / Niche
register.
10. The Parish Priest is not authorised to permit a burial to take place unless a
certificate of the cause of death and a certificate duly signed by, the
competent authority is produced and handed to the Parish Priest. If unnatural
death, then a certificate from the coroner for burial is to be sent before
opening a grave.
11. All permanent and temporary graves are the property of the church and only
the right of use is transferred to the permanent grave holder.
12. Immediately on the parishioner of the adjoining parishes getting their own
graveyard / cemetery, they shall cease to rights to permanent graves of this
parish. In such cases no transfer of graves to the names of any one else will
be allowed. PP is not bound to recognize the same.
13. Grave cannot be transferred, assigned or bequeathed to anyone other than
"family", except with the written prior permission of the parish priest.
14. The record supplied to each permanent grave holder, should be produced
when reopening of the grave, is made.
15. It will be the sole responsibility of the relatives of the deceased to maintain
the crosses and the tombstone of permanent graves and the slabs over the
niches.