That sounds about as good as a liturgy committee. Why, exactly, can’t the priest, deacon, or lay staff members meet with the family and do this?Actually, we do have “funeral planners” We call them the Ministry of Consolation. They meet with the families to prepare the funeral liturgy. This includes choosing the readings and music, giving the guidelines for readers and trying to convince them that we do not do eulogies at Catholic funerals. They take care of all that will happen in the church so that the family will not have to be concered. They even make up worship aides to be given out at mass. At the funeral they act as hosts and even do the readings and serve as EMHC if one is needed.
Most people have never given thougth to preparing a funeral, and if they are basically unchurched, this service is extreamly helpful.
There are people who are particularly good at that ministry – and some priests just aren’t. Many parishes don’t have deacons or lay staff to do that.That sounds about as good as a liturgy committee. Why, exactly, can’t the priest, deacon, or lay staff members meet with the family and do this?
Many of the people involved in this ministry have experience the deaths of significant others. They are very compassionate and sit with the people for hours sometimes. The priests or staff do not have time to do that. The people are very well trained by the diocese and are up on the rules regarding funerals. The Consolation people have all the family’s wishes and request written up and present them to the priest the day before the funeral. In our parish two of our priests are in school full time and don’t have much time to sit with people for a long time (sad but true, would that it was not so).There are people who are particularly good at that ministry – and some priests just aren’t. Many parishes don’t have deacons or lay staff to do that.
Are the “Funeral Planners” paid parish staff?Actually, we do have “funeral planners” We call them the Ministry of Consolation. They meet with the families to prepare the funeral liturgy. This includes choosing the readings and music, giving the guidelines for readers and trying to convince them that we do not do eulogies at Catholic funerals. They take care of all that will happen in the church so that the family will not have to be concered. They even make up worship aides to be given out at mass. At the funeral they act as hosts and even do the readings and serve as EMHC if one is needed.
Most people have never given thougth to preparing a funeral, and if they are basically unchurched, this service is extreamly helpful.
In most places that I’m familiar with that have these it’s a volunteer ministry, like pastoral care.Are the “Funeral Planners” paid parish staff?
I don’t understand this?or private baptisms (and when was the last time there was a private baptism???
Yes the Ministry of Consolation are volunteers, but they have books they give the people and the parish pays for their training and ongoing workshops. Plus there are copies to be made of readings and guidelines. Part of the fee to the parish goes to pay the sacristian, for the lights and AC or heat, which has to be turned on, for maintenance to clean up after, for the cleaning of the pall, worship aides, priests’ gas to the cemetary, plus his stipend.Are the “Funeral Planners” paid parish staff?
I gather form the other posts that they are volunteers. If so the parish should not have a fee for their services. Wedding liturgy planners should also be parish volunteers form the Liturgy committee, and be fee free. IMO
Many parishes today only celebrate Baptisms within Sunday Mass. In those that opt to have Baptisms outside of Mass, the ritual says that it should be a community celebration in that it’s never a ‘private’ thing but members of the congregation are invited to attend.I don’t understand this?
Every baptism I’ve ever been to is one family. I guess it’s not private, in the sense that anyone can come.
I believe that you take the baby to Church the first Saturday he’s home and you get him baptized, ASAP. That necessitates a “private” baptism.
God Bless
Unfortunately we aren’t talking about Wedding liturgy planners, but Wedding Planners – kinda like drill sergeants – who may know zip about Catholic wedding liturgy and who try to impose their ideas on the parish. Wedding planners are big business.Are the “Funeral Planners” paid parish staff?
I gather form the other posts that they are volunteers. If so the parish should not have a fee for their services. Wedding liturgy planners should also be parish volunteers form the Liturgy committee, and be fee free. IMO
Same here in my neck of the woods. Having a baptism outside of mass just doen’t make sense.We haven’t done a so-called private baptism in our parish in about 9 years, 99% of them are celebrated at either the anticipated Mass or the Sunday morning Mass.
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The parish should not be charging a fee for wedding planners.Unfortunately we aren’t talking about Wedding liturgy planners, but Wedding Planners – kinda like drill sergeants – who may know zip about Catholic wedding liturgy and who try to impose their ideas on the parish. Wedding planners are big business.
You misunderstood the post about wedding planners. The parish doesn’t charge for them but has to put with them so could be justified in charging thousands just for the aggravation said planners cause.The parish should not be charging a fee for wedding planners.
We had one bride who had a wedding planner who was simply a pain in the neck. She wasn’t Catholic so she had no sense of what a Catholic Wedding was and insisted to do things her way. When we told her she couldn’t she got all indignant. We finally had to call the bride and tell her “hands off” the wedding liturgy, that the couple and the priest would plan the liturgy and the wedding planner could take care of everything else. And you should have seen what she did with the flowers. I wish I had a picture of it.You misunderstood the post about wedding planners. The parish doesn’t charge for them but has to put with them so could be justified in charging thousands just for the aggravation said planners cause.
What did she do??? What did she do???We had one bride who had a wedding planner who was simply a pain in the neck. She wasn’t Catholic so she had no sense of what a Catholic Wedding was and insisted to do things her way. When we told her she couldn’t she got all indignant. We finally had to call the bride and tell her “hands off” the wedding liturgy, that the couple and the priest would plan the liturgy and the wedding planner could take care of everything else. And you should have seen what she did with the flowers. I wish I had a picture of it.
Actually there are. The funeral directors are the guys who make the big bucks. You can usually see their smiling faces on the back of the church bulletin on Sunday. You don’t notice 'em til you need 'em.Exactly! There are no “funeral planners” running around talking about how important this day is and how you only get one in your life.
Just because they are charged doesn’t mean we aren’t doing everything within our power to educate. I take exception to what you say. There is no “winking and nodding” at it. We do our best at my parish to teach and prepare them for marriage, but most have it in their mind, and do not change.The prevailing thoughts on the forum seems to be it’s okay to charge for the church because “bridezillas” are making it their “big day.” Wouldn’t it be more Christian to try to educate “bridezilla” in the beauty of the sacrament she is about to partake in & the meaning behind it. To guide her with Christian love instead of winking and nodding at her self aggrandizement and charging her for it?