Please note:  The following information was compiled pre-pandemic.  Not all of the information applies while Coronavirus remains a concern.

Blessings in Christ! We are sorry for your loss, and we feel honored to assist in your funeral preparations, in this last act of charity for the mortal remains of your beloved deceased. We hope the following answers will aid you in your preparations for the funeral.
 
What types of services do you offer for someone who has died?
There are two basic services: 

• Funeral Mass (in which the body is present, either in a casket or as ashes in an urn).
• Memorial Mass (in which the body is not present). 

1. Funeral Mass. A Catholic Mass is celebrated for the soul of the departed, with scripture readings and the Liturgy of the Eucharist (Communion), with funeral rites included. (In the case where the body of the deceased - either intact or cremated - is not present, the Funeral Mass is called a "Memorial Mass".) This lasts about one hour.
2. Funeral without Mass. A Liturgy of the Word is celebrated, with readings only, with funeral rites included. There is no Liturgy of the Eucharist (Communion). This lasts about 45 minutes.

• Yes, we can hold a funeral Mass with either the whole body or with ashes in an urn.
• Traditionally in funerals, the whole body is present. If feasible, you may wish to consider waiting to cremate until after the Mass.
• If you bring an urn with ashes for the Mass, you may wish to bring a large photograph to place alongside the urn.
• After cremation, it is very important that ashes be treated just like a body, i.e., to be buried in a cemetery within a reasonable time (not more than one month). This is an expression of our faith in the Resurrection. We are happy to come to the graveside service, whenever it takes place.
• The following are not to be done: retaining ashes at home for over a month; scattering ashes; turning ashes into jewelry or other mementos. These do not appropriately express our faith in the Resurrection.

• Normally yes, assuming the church space is available. This can last either thirty minutes or an hour, depending on the number of guests you expect.
• Tables are available if you wish to bring photographs or other mementos to display.

• We regret that due to logistical considerations, we are not able to host visitations on a prior day.

• St. Peter’s does not charge a fee for any sacraments, including funerals. Nonetheless, for those financially able, we do appreciate your support for the use of the church facilities and for the priest’s time.
• We usually ask two of our altar servers to help the priest with the Mass. We encourage you to remember the altar servers with a small donation each. Again, however, you may give as your means allow.
• If you choose to have music at the Mass, there are some obligatory fees (see below).

• Yes, you may obtain one either from your funeral home or from us. Just let us know.

• Yes, you may. The Church has a variety of scriptural readings approved for funeral Masses. You may find them here: Bereavement and Funerals | USCCB
• From this list you may choose the following four readings:
  • First Reading
  • Psalm
  • Second Reading
  • Gospel
• If you do not wish to choose the readings, the priest will be happy to choose them for you.

• Readers – Readers may be chosen for: First Reading, Psalm (if no cantor), Second Reading, and General Intercessions. Therefore, you can have from 1-4 readers. Readers should be practicing Catholics familiar with the Mass, or other practicing Christians. If you cannot or do not wish to supply readers, our own Arimathean ministry team will happily serve as readers.
• Gift-bearers – usually from 2-4. Gift-bearers may be of any faith or none.
• Pallbearers – usually around 6. Pallbearers may be of any faith or none.

• Yes. You may choose to have an instrumentalist and/or a cantor for your funeral. Our chapel has a piano and our main church has an organ. (A guitarist can also be made available.) These professionals do charge mandatory fees because music is their livelihood. Ask our music minister for exact fees, but normally musicians charge $150-250 each for their time.
• If you wish to supply your own instrumentalist and/or cantor for the Mass, these are approved on a case-by-case basis in conjunction with our music minister. Musicians unfamiliar with the Catholic Mass would not be eligible.
• If you wish to supply a particular person to sing/play a single meditation hymn during Mass, this can generally be arranged.
• Our music minister can be reached by calling the office at (301) 924-3774.

• The Catholic Mass follows a certain well-defined format, and thus we normally use songs approved for use in the liturgy. These songs are found in our liturgical books, and we encourage you to select songs from there in conjunction with our music minister. If you wish to use another song, it must first be approved by the music minister. Songs lacking a liturgical character are not to be used.
• If you wish to play a song that would not be appropriate for the Mass, this might be played either at the service at the funeral home, at the committal service, or at the wake.

• Yes, a few names can be mentioned in the General Intercessions. Please bring a typed sheet with their names to the funeral and give it to one of our Arimathean ministers.

• Yes, we will supply a clergy member to come to the graveside committal. This service lasts about 15 minutes. We sometimes ask our parish deacons to officiate at this service. For a committal done in conjunction with a funeral Mass, no additional offering would be anticipated.
• If the committal is to take place at a cemetery a long distance from the parish, we may work with you to find another clergy member closer to the cemetery.

• We regret that we do not. Here are some local Olney establishments that our parishioners have used for past receptions:
  • Buffington Building Community Room (301-774-5900)
  • Brookeville Academy (301-509-8533)
  • Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department Ballroom (301-774-7400)
  • Longwood Rec Center (240-777-6920)
  • The Manor at Silo Falls (301-924-6500)
  • Sandy Spring Museum (301-774-0022)

• Please feel free to extend an invitation. But don’t take it personally if we decline – our days are generally quite full!

• We automatically include your beloved’s name in the following Sunday’s General Intercessions. (Please inform us if you do not want this.)
• If you wish a future daily Mass to be said for the deceased person, please contact our office to reserve a Mass on our calendar.
• Every November 2 (All Souls’ Day) St. Peter’s hosts a special evening Mass for the families of all those whom we have buried out of our parish.

• Yes, any of the priests here at St. Peter’s are available by appointment.
• If you want longer-term professional counseling, here are some local services that may be helpful:
  • Alpha & Omega Clinic:  (301) 767-1733
  • Holy Cross Hospital Bereavement Center: (301) 754-7742
  • Hospice Caring: (301) 990-8904
  • Montgomery Hospice: (301) 921-4000