Funerals

Thank you for choosing the Shrine of St. Joseph to celebrate this Mass in honor of your loved one. It is our privilege and honor to serve you. Once contact has been made with the Shrine Coordinator, the priest will be contacted and a date and time for Mass will be confirmed. Family and friends may access the attached link https://docdro.id/v55JaIG to choose Scripture readings and hymns for the Mass.  The Coordinator can make these selections for the family, if no meeting is desired.

We know this is a difficult time for you, your friends and family, and we encourage your allowing us to minister to you.  However, if you have family members or friends who read at mass in their home church, they are welcome to read at the funeral. We ask readers to arrive 15 minutes before Mass so the Coordinator may go over instructions to eliminate confusion during Mass. Please give the first names of your readers to the Coordinator no later than 2 days before the funeral.  If there are no relatives or friends who would like to read, the sacristan will be happy to choose a volunteer from the parish who is trained for this ministry.

Family and friends may also choose to bring up the gifts of bread and wine. Two people can be chosen.  Please give the Coordinator the first names of those chosen no later than 2 days before the Mass.  If this is not desired, our Shrine staff will handle this.

Eulogies and remembrances for the deceased are optional and may be given after Holy Communion has been distributed.  We have a 2- speaker limit. They may speak for a maximum of 5 minutes each.

Pictures of the deceased may be present during the Mass.  Please contact the Coordinator for more details regarding placement in the church.

The Shrine Coordinator will discuss any stipends necessary for the Shrine, Priest, Servers, Organist, and Cantor.  Funeral services will never be refused to anyone who is unable to afford them.

Finally, please provide the Coordinator with some background information about your loved one. Share some thoughts and anything special and memorable about your relative or friend.  This will be shared with the priest to help him personalize the homily.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to our Coordinator.  We are honored to help you during this difficult time.  Please be assured of our prayers and support.

May God bless you and fill you with peace!

The Shrine of St. Joseph
314-231-9407
Email:  info@shrineofstjoseph.org