A few weeks ago, I was taking a pleasant hike in Paugussett State Forest in Newtown, when I encountered a man who was carrying a box of something. We began chatting, and he told me, “Today is a momentous day for me. I just came back from scattering my mother’s ashes in the Housatonic River.” I was quite shocked and didn’t know how to respond to this!
As we continue the month of November, dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory, it’s worth exploring what the Church teaches about funerals and burials – what is the proper way to respect the human body after death?
First, the Church teaches that death occurs in one of two ways. First, death can occur when there is complete cessation of heartbeat and breathing. If someone dies at home, we can know that they have passed on when these two bodily functions have stopped. The second way to determine death is complete cessation of brain function, including the brain stem. In the case of someone in the hospital who is kept alive through artificial respiration, they are considered alive until their entire brain ceases to function – including the brain stem, which is responsible for involuntary bodily functions such as digestion and circulation.
Once death has occurred, one should seek out a funeral. A Catholic funeral has three parts: a vigil (or “wake”), which involves prayers at the funeral home; a Funeral Mass; and a burial. Let’s look at each of these three separately.
A Catholic wake serves two purposes. First, there is the opportunity for family and friends to bring condolences and prayers to the loved one’s family. In fact, this fulfills both a corporal AND a spiritual work of mercy (“bury the dead” and “pray for the living and the dead”, respectively). We should always attend wakes if possible, as it shows the family that the community – and particularly the Church – is with them during this time of sorrow and grief. But the second purpose of the wake is to begin the prayers for the deceased – we offer prayers for their eternal rest and for the comfort of the family.
The second part of a Catholic funeral is a Funeral Mass. Every Catholic should have a funeral Mass, not just a prayer service at a funeral home (which, sadly, is becoming more popular). The Mass is the highest form of prayer we have – it applies the infinite graces and merits of Christ’s Cross to the soul of the deceased. Just as we began our lives in Church at our baptism, we conclude our lives at Church for a funeral. In fact, the connections between baptism and funerals are tremendously rich – the body is covered with a white pall, symbolic of the white garment we wore at baptism; the casket is doused with holy water, reminiscent of the baptismal water covering us; and the Paschal Candle is lit, reminding us that at our baptism we received a Baptismal Candle which had been lit by the flame from the Paschal Candle.
Except for rare circumstances, we should never neglect to have a Funeral Mass for our deceased loved ones! It is a powerful prayer for their soul, and we make present again the Sacrifice of Christ which opened the gates of Heaven for all of us.
Finally, the third part of a funeral is the burial. Whether a person is in a casket or an urn, we still must bury the body, either in the ground or in an above-ground columbarium. It is actually forbidden for Catholics to keep the ashes in their home or to scatter the ashes around. At one parish I was assigned to, I’ll never forget the day when a man showed up at church asking if I could bless some ashes. I thought it might be related to Ash Wednesday, so I agreed and went with him to his house. Imagine my surprise when the ashes were actually those of his grandma, whose urn had fallen off the mantle and shattered on the floor, scattering her ashes all over the carpet! Poor grandma ended up in a Hoover vacuum cleaner! Practically speaking, we don’t keep ashes because of the chance they could be disrespected or forgotten, and we don’t scatter ashes because we deserve to be buried on sacred ground. A burial plot helps us to grieve, so that we can gather to pray for them in a specific, sacred location where our loved one’s remains await the final day. Even after death, we must treat the body with deep respect, knowing that our bodies will someday rise again.
Of course it goes without saying that as Catholics we are also forbidden to dispose of a body in one of the many sentimental ways that the world now offers – turning the ashes into a diamond that you can wear in a locket, turning the person into fertilizer (yes, that’s a real thing, called Natural Organic Reduction), or liquifying the human body (also a real thing, called alkaline hydrolysis). We can, however, donate our bodies to science, so long as the remains are returned to the family after the scientists are finished with it, and buried in a respectful manner.
Although at times it’s uncomfortable to think about death, it is also a part of life – and for a Christian, it is the passageway to a new and more abundant life. We can aid our deceased loved ones by burying their mortal remains with care; by having all three parts of a Catholic funeral; and by praying for their immortal souls!
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PRO-LIFE INVITATION
We invite and encourage all parishioners to join us for First Friday ADORATION December 3rd at 7:00 P.M. in Church to pray for your own intentions as well as to join our Pro-life Ministers as we pray to overturn Roe vs Wade and end the evil of abortion in our Country.
PRO-LIFE at St.Lawrence Church, Shelton
St. Lawrence Church has scheduled overnight ADORATION on Nov. 30th from
9:00 P.M. until 9:00 A.M. Dec. 1st to pray for our Supreme Court Justices as they deliberate on the Dobbs case before them.
They are inviting all local Parishes volunteers to spend an hour Adoring Our Lord during this Vigil. If you are able to join them, please contact :
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Save the date!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS
A party for children with their ‘grown ups’, focused on the real meaning of Christmas.
Saturday, December 4, 2021
10am to 1pm in the St. Jude social hall
Sponsored by the Columbiettes
Arts and crafts*****Games *****Caroling*****Birthday Cupcakes
Nativity set raffle
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Food Pantry Information
Our Thanksgiving distribution is right around corner. Sixteen families will benefit from your continued generosity. With this in mind, we are currently in need of the following items: boxed oatmeal, coffee/tea/hot cocoa, jarred pasta sauce and children’s cereal.
Thank you again for your continued support of this ministry.
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St Charles Christmas Drive
Part of our role as Christians is to help our brothers and sisters in need. The Columbiettes are sponsoring a collection for families at St Charles Parish in Bridgeport. The collection will run from November 20 through November 28. There will be a donation box in the Church foyer.
We are asking for Gift Cards to Kohl’s or Target, or monetary donations.
We thank you for your generosity.
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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Chicken Marsala Dinner
HOSTED BY THE 4TH DEGREE
DATE: SATURDAY Nov. 20th
PLACE: MSGR. SABIA SOCIAL HALL
TIME: Following 4:00 Mass
PRICE: $12.00 PER PERSON; $10.00 FOR SENIORS &
$30.00 FOR FAMILY OF 4
($5.00 EACH ADDITIONAL FAMILY MEMBER)
PRICE INCLUDES: Chicken Marsala, Rice,
VEGETABLES, SALAD, BREAD, DESSERT,
COFFEE, TEA, SODA & WATER
TICKETS - PLEASE CALL KEVIN DONOVAN - 203-570-4372
50% OF NET PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO
THE Home For The Brave
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!
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Save the Dates
Rectory open house 12/19 2-6pm, it will be potluck
Blessings & Carols on 12/12 starting at 2pm in the Church
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The Christmas Wafers – Oplatki – are available in the parish office and at the religious gift shop . Supplies are limited. Cost $1.00 per packet.
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Parish Center available!
We are still marketing our parish center (former school building) with the hope of offsetting operation costs. Please contact the parish office for more information.
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Please remember in your daily prayers:
Marge Tranzillo, Judy-Beth Raine, Maria Bertone, Deacon Ronnie Bicknell, Marie Micholovich, Joseph Bisignano, Sr., Vincent Daniello, Dyana vander Wielen, David Bath, Martha Zenobia, Joe Pinto, Ray Schwartz, Daniel Louis Bianco, Zoey Frigo, Koswenda Family, Max, Hung Vu, Jamie Addesa
Also remember all healthcare workers, first responders, caregivers and the men and women of the parish who are in the military.
If you have anyone that you would like to add to the list, please call the office or email with the name to be added.
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Please join us in praying our Monthly Parish Intention.
Our Petition for November is:
May we be thankful for all our blessings, most especially, the gift of the Eucharist, which itself means Thanksgiving...
We pray to the Lord
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Upcoming Mass Intentions
Sat Nov 20 4:00pm Maria Emilia Monteiro
Sun Nov 21 7:30am St. Jude Parishioners
Sun Nov 21 9:30am Bill Thibodeau
Sun Nov 21 11:30am The Pinto and DeAndrade families
Mon Nov 22 9:00am James Tierney, Sr.
Tue Nov 23 9:00am Isabel Dupont
Wed Nov 24 9:00am Lucy Quinto
Thu Nov 25 9:00am Edward Burns
Sat Nov 27 4:00pm Luis Ferreira
Sun Nov 28 7:30am 50th Wedding Anniversary of Denny
and Cathy Ritch
Sun Nov 28 9:30am St. Jude Parishioners
Sun Nov 28 11:30am Mary Ellen Bolton
The Tabernacle Candle will burn in loving memory of Domingo Arribas during the month of November
If the 9:00 am Weekday mass is not listed, an intention has not been requested. Also, there are no public Masses on Friday mornings.
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Monday through Thursday Weekday Masses will be in the main Church at 9 am and live streamed.
The Weekend Masses inside the Church are Saturday at 4:00 pm and Sunday at 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30. Only the Saturday Mass at 4:00 pm and the Sunday 7:30 am Mass are live streamed.
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People can call the parish office to arrange to be added to the sick bound and home communion call list, for a clergy to bring them communion at their homes beginning in July. |
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First Friday Eucharistic Adoration
“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. Matthew 11:28-30
The time that we spend with Jesus in front of the Blessed Sacrament is the best time we will spend on earth. Please join us on the first Friday of every month from 7:00 to 8:00 PM.
NOTE: Adoration also will be held during Advent on Dec 3, 10, and 17
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St. Jude Religious Gift Shop
Gift Shop will be selling Christmas items, ornaments, cards and more, including Advent Wreaths, Candles and Calendars after Masses on weekend 11/20 & 11/21st and after Thanksgiving Mass 11/25.
St. Jude Religious Gift Shop is located downstairs in the Msgr. Sabia Social Hall. Many new items for all occasions. Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Rosaries, Bibles, Statues, Medals & more. Variety of cards: Graduation, Birthday, Weddings, Get Well, Sympathy, etc. Come down & browse and find the perfect gift. For more info call: Parish Office - 203-261-6404 or call Fran Cambra - 203-261-2573.
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Confession Hours
Confessions on Saturday afternoon will be in the day chapel at 3:00 pm on Saturdays. Confessions are also by appointment, please call 203-261-6404, to set up and appointment or emailing.
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Parish Office Hours
THE OFFICE HOURS ARE:
MONDAY - THURSDAY 9:00 – 3:00
Please call (203-261-6404) or e-mail (parish.office@stjuderc.com) before coming to the office. Much can be accomplished through a phone call or email, such as requesting masses/mass cards; sacramental records; registering for Baptism; etc.
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St Jude Parish
707 Monroe Tpke
Monroe, CT 06468
203-261-6404
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