COMMITTAL

For a burial, we shall leave the church and go in cars to the graveside. If the service was held in the Cemetery/Crematorium chapel, we could walk to the graveside, or if its a long way from the chapel, we can go in cars.

Once we arrive at the place of committal, there will be a short service of prayer, and then the coffin will be lowered into the grave. The priest will wait for everyone to gather round the grave before he begins. Thought should be given to those who are slower on their feet than others, so that people are not kept waiting too long to begin. This is especially if it's raining.

If members of the family are going to lower the coffin into the grave, the funeral directors will advise you accordingly. We understand peoples request to do this but we would advise that the Funeral Director be allowed to lower the coffin. They are the professionals, and it is much more difficult to do than we realise. Your health and safety is our concern at all times.

After the Committal, people can add their own dedications if they so wish. For example, flowers may be put on the coffin, some have released balloons, or doves. Some have read a poem, sang a song, played a favourite hymn, some have even had a drink around the grave, but we would recommend saving that for the reception afterwards.

For a Cremation; if the Funeral Service was held in the church, we shall make our way to the Crematorium for the Committal. The body is received at the entrance to the Crematorium Chapel and we shall enter the chapel immediately when everyone has arrived. As the body would have already have been received by the Church, it would not normally be received in the Cemetery/Crematorium Chapel because this is a continuation of the service already begun in the Church. Once everyone has arrived, we simply walk behind the coffin into the Chapel as music is played; everyone goes to their seats, and the service begins.

If the Funeral Service is to be held at the Cemetery/Crematorium chapel, the body will be received into the chapel in the same way as it would be received into church; the coffin is blessed and prayers are said before we enter the Chapel.

We are allocated half an hour for the Funeral service and/or the Committal in the chapel, irrespective of whether a service was held in church before or not. If a service has already been held in Church, it will only take 10 minutes for the Committal. As we have time, perhaps you could give some thought to having the Eulogy at the Chapel instead of in the Church. This would give us more time and we wouldn't be too rushed at the church.

If there is to be a service in the Chapel before the Committal, the Crematorium allows 5 minutes for people to enter the Chapel, and five minutes to leave. We therefore have only twenty minutes for the service. Please keep this in mind when planning your service. This type of service is popular with some people who perhaps would find a Church Service or Requiem Mass too long.

If the Funeral service is to be held in the Crematorium Chapel, the Committal takes place as part of the funeral Service. It is traditional that the coffin is taken from view during the committal, and the church would advise this take place. It has been known for the coffin to remain on view after the service for people to file past as they leave the Chapel. We would advise against this, however, if this is what you want to do the priest would abide by your wishes.

After the Cremation, the Funeral Directors will inform the family when the Ashes are ready for collection from the Crematorium. It is traditional in the Catholic Church to bury the Ashes, either in the Garden of Remembrance, or a place in the Cemetery reserved for the burial of Ashes. It is also permissible to have the ashes buried in the grave of a loved one, husband with wife for example.

A priest will conduct the short service of internment, and it is traditional to make a donation for the service. The service would be no longer than 5 to 10 minutes.

Please note that the church would not advise people to keep the ashes on a shelf, or split the ashes, or scatter the ashes. The Catholic position on this is that ashes should be buried afterwards and the person laid to rest.