Funerals - What we Believe

At Sacred Heart Catholic Church, we believe that death is not the end of our existence, but a passage to eternal life with God. Through the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have the hope of resurrection and everlasting life.

The Catholic funeral liturgy is a prayer of faith, hope, and thanksgiving. It commends the deceased to the loving mercy of God and offers comfort and hope to family and friends. At the funeral, we gather as a community to pray for the deceased and to proclaim our faith in Jesus Christ, who conquered death and opened for us the way to eternal life.

Our Catholic Understanding of the Body:

The Catholic Church teaches that the human body is sacred. We believe that each person is created in the image and likeness of God, and that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Because of this, the Church treats the body of the deceased with dignity and respect.

We also believe in the resurrection of the body. At the end of time, God will raise the dead, and those who have died in Christ will share in the fullness of eternal life.

Cremation:

The Catholic Church permits cremation, provided that it is not chosen for reasons contrary to Christian faith. Cremation does not change the Church's belief in the resurrection of the body. God, who created us, is fully capable of raising us to new life.

When cremation is chosen, the Church asks that the cremated remains be treated with the same dignity and respect given to the body. The cremated remains should be placed in a worthy vessel and, whenever possible, receive the same care and prayerful treatment as the body of the deceased.

The Church teaches that cremated remains should normally be buried in a cemetery or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium. They should not ordinarily be scattered, divided among family members, kept permanently at home, or incorporated into jewelry or other objects. These practices do not adequately express the Catholic belief in the dignity of the human person and the hope of the resurrection.

A Funeral in the Catholic Church:

Whether the deceased is buried or cremated, the Catholic Church desires that the funeral be a time of prayer and Christian hope. The Church accompanies the deceased and the grieving family through the funeral rites, entrusting the person who has died to God's mercy.

In every Catholic funeral, we proclaim our faith:

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.”
— John 11:25

May our hope in Christ's Resurrection bring comfort to all who mourn and remind us that, for those who die in Christ, death is not the end, but the beginning of eternal life.

To schedule a Funeral Mass with Sacred Heart, please contact the Parish Office, and they will assist you and connect you with our Liturgical Ministry Coordinator, Mary Shockley,  (575) 763-6947.