Memorial Booklet

The running order of a Catholic funeral Mass, for the program

A Catholic funeral Mass follows the Order of Christian Funerals: the body is received at the church door, the Liturgy of the Word and the Eucharist are celebrated, and the Mass ends with the final commendation and the procession to the place of committal.

Introductory rites

  1. Reception of the bodyGreeting at the church door and sprinkling with holy water, led by the priest.
  2. Placing of the pallThe pall may be placed on the coffin by family, friends or the minister (OCF 133).
  3. Entrance songThe minister goes ahead of the coffin and the mourners.
  4. Placing of Christian symbolsOptional: for example a crucifix or Bible, carried by a family member, friend or the minister and placed on the coffin (OCF 134).
  5. Opening prayer

Liturgy of the Word

  1. First readingFrom the Old Testament; in Easter Time a reading from the New Testament (Acts or Revelation) is used instead.
  2. Responsorial psalmShould be sung; if not sung, recited meditatively.
  3. Second readingOptional. When there are two readings before the Gospel, a different reader reads each.
  4. Gospel acclamationThe Alleluia, or the Lenten acclamation; left out if not sung.
  5. GospelProclaimed by the deacon or priest.
  6. HomilyBrief and based on the readings, and “never any kind of eulogy” (OCF 141).
  7. Prayer of the faithfulThe general intercessions, which families can help compose (samples at OCF 167).

Liturgy of the Eucharist

  1. Preparation of the giftsFamily members or friends may bring the gifts to the altar (OCF 144).
  2. Eucharistic prayer
  3. CommunionThe Lord’s Prayer, sign of peace, Lamb of God and Communion hymns.
  4. Prayer after Communion

Words of remembrance

  1. Words of remembranceOptional. A member or friend of the family may speak after the prayer after Communion and before the final commendation (OCF 170).

Final commendation and farewell

  1. Final commendationInvitation to prayer, silence, signs of farewell (holy water, incense), song of farewell and prayer of commendation.
  2. Procession to the place of committalWith a closing hymn, for example “In Paradisum” or a psalm.

Worth knowing before you print

  • The readings in the Liturgy of the Word must come from Scripture: “the biblical readings may not be replaced by nonbiblical readings” (OCF General Introduction 23). Poems and non-biblical readings belong at the vigil or other prayers with the family. (source)
  • Dioceses set their own rules for words of remembrance. The Diocese of Lansing allows one speaker for three to five minutes; the Archdiocese of Detroit does not allow a eulogy during the funeral liturgy but permits words of remembrance that are not a eulogy. Ask the parish before you print a name against this part. (source)
  • The Catholic funeral rite has three parts: the vigil (often during visitation at the funeral home), the funeral liturgy, and the rite of committal at the grave or place of interment. (source)
  • In the US, the Lectionary text on the USCCB’s funeral pages may not be reproduced without written permission from the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. The reader uses the parish Lectionary, so you may prefer to print only the reference and the reader’s name in the running order. (source)
  • National flags and the insignia of associations are removed from the coffin at the church entrance and may be replaced after it leaves the church (OCF 132). (source)

What to put in the booklet

  • Print each reading’s reference and reader, for example “First reading: Wisdom 3:1-9, read by Anne Hughes”.
  • Ask the parish whether it provides a worship aid with the congregation’s responses and music, so the booklet does not repeat it.
  • Put the life story in the booklet rather than read it at the Mass: the Lansing guidance suggests an itemized obituary can go in the booklet instead of being read.

Start a booklet with this running order already filled in. Change, add or remove any part.

Start with the catholic funeral mass running order

Sources

Checked on September 28, 2026.