Do you have to be a Catholic to sing at a funeral Mass?

[trebclf1011]

My mom passed away and my sister is planning the entire Mass. She is a devout Catholic and I have left the Church and became Protestant. When I asked her if a friend of mine from my church could sing a worship song, Scripture-based, at the service, she told me she couldn’t because she is not Catholic. Do you have to be Catholic to sing at a funeral Mass? Also, I wanted to read from the Bible and was told no. A stranger will be doing the readings. I feel so excluded from my own mother’s funeral.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

I am so sorry to hear of your mother’s death and pray that she will rest in peace.

In a Catholic Mass, music and Scripture readings ordinarily are considered ministries, and so are generally supposed to be filled by Catholics. That is why the lector (the one who reads from Scripture) and the cantor (the one who leads the singing) are supposed to be Catholics.

That said, it does seem like some accommodation could be possible to allow you to have some part in your mom’s funeral. While the Scripture readings must be read by a Catholic, your sister could solicit your (name removed by moderator)ut in choosing from among the selections of Scripture that the Church uses at funerals. While your non-Catholic friend should not be singing during the Mass, she might be invited to sing just before the entrance hymn. (Keep in mind that the song she sings should be approved first by the priest celebrating the Mass.)

I’m guessing that your sister is worried about making certain that the funeral Mass for your mom is “perfect.” She is also doing this while weighed down by grief. So perhaps she is not being as thoughtful as she might otherwise be. Perhaps you could suggest that you and she meet with the priest who will be presiding to discuss with him the possibilities for including you more in the arrangements. God bless.