(Photo by Annie Spratt)

Whether you are making arrangements for a funeral honoring a deceased loved one, or planning ahead for your own funeral mass, our Consolation Ministry is here to assist you and your family plan a reflective and meaningful service.

First, call your local funeral home to set up a date for the service. Typically, they will contact St. Robert Bellarmine to coordinate and confirm the date.

Review the list below and when you are ready to set up details of the mass, you can start filling out our Planning the Funeral Liturgy form. You will be asked to select readings, prayer intentions and music. Use these pages to guide your selections.

Once we receive your form, a member from our Consolation Ministry team will be in contact. At any time, you can also call our rectory at 773-777-2666 to schedule a meeting directly. Special requests can also be handled separately through the rectory. Other things to consider:

• Your consolation minister will also ask you about the person whose life we are celebrating. This may include anecdotes, attributes and virtues that best describe your loved one.
• Think about who and what level of involvement family members or close friends will have in helping with the Mass, including readings, petitions, and bringing up the gifts.

Choose (1) First Reading, (1) Second Reading, (1) Gospel Reading, (4-5) Prayers of the Faithful, and (4) Hymns. Each listing can be clicked on for a preview.

First Reading
2 Maccabees 12:43-45
Job 19:1, 23-27
Proverbs 31:10-31 (selected verses)
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
Wisdom 3:1-9
Wisdom 4:7-15
Sirach 3:1-16 (selected verses)
Sirach 6:14-17
Isaiah 25:6-9
Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9
Isaiah 40:1, 28-31
Isaiah 42:1, 6-8
Isaiah 60:19-20
Lamentations 3:17-26
Ezekiel 34:11-16
Daniel 12:1-3
Zephamiah 3:14-18, 20

Second Reading
Romans 5: 5-11
Romans 5:17-21
Romans 6:3-4, 8-9
Romans 8:14-23
Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39
Romans 12 9-15
Romans 14:7-9, 10c-12
1 Corinthians 13 1-8a
1 Corinthians 13:8-13
1 Corinthians 15_20-23
1 Corinthians 15:51-57
2 Corinthians 4 7-14
2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1
2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-10
Ephesians 4:1-6
Philippians 3:20-21
Philippians 4:4-7
Philippians 4:4-9
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
2 Timothy 2:8-13
2 Timothy 4:6-7, 17-18
2 Timothy 4:6-8
2 Timothy 4:6-9
1 John 3:1-2
1 John 3:1-3
Revelation 7-9:14b-17
Revelation 14:13
Revelation 21:1-5a,6b 7
Acts of the Apostles 10:34-43

Gospel Reading
Matthew 5:1-12a
Matthew 11:25-30
Matthew 18:1-5
Matthew 22:35-40
Matthew 25:31-46
Matthew 25:31-36, 40
Luke 2:25-32
Luke 12:22-32
Luke 23:33, 39-43
John 6:37-40
John 11:17-27
John 12:23-26
John 13:33-35, 14:15, 25, 27
John 14:1-6
John 15:9-13
John 15:9-16

Prayers of Faithful
The Prayers of the Faithful are intercessory prayers. They show our belief, our faith in God, and are a plea for God’s intercession. Choose 4 or 5 of the following prayers. If you wish, you may compose your own or adapt prayers provided.

Hymn Suggestions for Funerals
You may pick up to four hymns for the funeral liturgy. The following are some commonly chosen selections. Other hymns may be used as well, but please keep in mind non-religious selections are not appropriate in a funeral liturgy. Any songs not in the hymnal are subject to the approval of the Music Director. Hymn numbers refer to Gather Comprehensive, 1st edition.

443  Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks
612  Amazing Grace
###  Ave Maria
608  Be Not Afraid
659  Blest Are They
638  Eye Has Not Seen
793  For All The Saints
782  Hail Mary, Gentle Woman
686  Here I Am, Lord
386  Hosea
494  How Great Thou Art
828  I Am The Bread of Life
504  I Have Loved You
646  Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
430  I Know That My Redeemer Lives
851  I Received the Living God
422  Jesus Christ is Risen Today
726  Make Me a Channel of Your Peace / Prayer of St. Francis
328  My Soul is Stillness Waits
611  On Eagle’s Wings
830  One Bread, One Body
874  Precious Lord, Take My Hand
###  Panis Angelicus
814  Taste and See
649  You Are Mine