Prayer, comfort, and hope in a time of loss
When someone you love dies, even ordinary decisions can feel difficult. At St. Francis Xavier, we invite you to contact the parish for prayer, guidance, and help with Catholic funeral arrangements.
You do not need to know all the customs or have everything planned before you call. We can help you take the next step.
Contact the parish about funeral arrangements
Please call the parish office to discuss arrangements with Father Jeff. Contact us before finalizing a service date so the parish and funeral home can coordinate availability.
When you call, please share the name of the person who has died, your name and callback number, and the funeral home involved, if one has been selected.
Parish office: (918) 775-6217
Why have a Catholic funeral?
A Catholic funeral honors the person who has died while placing our grief within the hope of Christ’s death and Resurrection.
The Church gathers to pray for the deceased, entrust them to God’s mercy, and support those who mourn. We give thanks for their life and ask God to receive them into eternal life.
These prayers do not require us to hide our sadness. Faith gives us a place to bring it.
What does a Catholic funeral include?
The Church’s funeral rites ordinarily include three connected moments of prayer:
- The Vigil: Prayer with family and friends, often during visitation, with time to remember the deceased and seek God’s comfort.
- The Funeral Liturgy: Usually a Funeral Mass, in which the Church prays for the deceased through the celebration of the Eucharist. In appropriate circumstances, a funeral liturgy may be celebrated outside Mass.
- The Rite of Committal: Prayer at the place of burial or interment, entrusting the deceased to God in the hope of resurrection.
Father Jeff will help explain the arrangements appropriate to your family’s circumstances.
Readings, music, and remembrance
The parish can guide you in choosing Scripture readings and music appropriate for the funeral liturgy. Please discuss your wishes with Father Jeff before making final plans.
There is also a place for sharing memories and honoring the person’s life. The vigil or a family gathering often provides a fitting opportunity for personal tributes. Father Jeff can help you understand how these fit alongside the Church’s liturgical prayers.
Questions about cremation
The Catholic Church permits cremation when it is not chosen as a rejection of Christian belief in the resurrection of the body. The Church continues to prefer burial of the body.
Cremated remains are to be treated with dignity and laid to rest in a sacred place, such as a cemetery or columbarium, rather than scattered or kept as personal keepsakes.
If your family is considering cremation, or cremation has already taken place, please contact the parish. We can explain the funeral and interment arrangements.
Questions or concerns? Please ask us
Families sometimes hesitate to contact the parish because of something they have heard about Catholic funerals. You may wonder whether cremation is permitted, whether burial must take place in a Catholic cemetery, or whether a Funeral Mass is required in every circumstance.
You may also be concerned because your loved one had been away from the Church, your family includes people of different faiths, or you are unsure of the deceased person’s wishes.
Please do not rule out a Catholic funeral or the Church’s support based on an assumption. There are important distinctions, and what you have heard may not fully explain the options available to your family.
Call the parish office at (918) 775-6217 to arrange a conversation with Father Jeff. He can explain the Church’s guidance, listen to your concerns, and help you understand what is possible in your circumstances.
You do not need to know the right terminology or have every question ready. Begin with the questions on your heart.
Welcoming family and friends
Family members and friends who are not Catholic are welcome to attend and join in prayer. The parish can help guests understand what to expect and how to participate respectfully.
Planning ahead with peace of mind
You do not need to wait until a time of illness or loss to talk about your funeral wishes. Some people find comfort in making plans ahead of time; others simply want to understand how a Catholic funeral would proceed.
Father Jeff welcomes these conversations and is prepared to guide you through the Church’s funeral rites and help you consider your wishes. Whether you want to make a detailed plan or ask a few questions, please contact the parish office to arrange a meeting.
You can discuss Scripture readings, sacred music, burial or cremation, and ways to communicate your wishes to your family and funeral director. You are welcome to bring a family member or someone you trust.
Planning ahead can be a thoughtful gift to those you love, easing some decisions they may face later. It can also bring reassurance that your wishes reflect your faith.
There is no need to arrive with decisions already made. The conversation can begin wherever you feel comfortable.
When someone is seriously ill or dying
Please contact the parish while the person is living so Father Jeff can discuss Anointing of the Sick, Confession, and Holy Communion as appropriate.
For an urgent need for a priest, call or text the parish office manager at any time, day or night: (405) 219-0177.
Please provide the person’s name, their location, your callback number, and whether the need is urgent.
Call the office manager Text the office manager
Helpful resources
- An Overview of Catholic Funeral Rites from the U.S. Catholic bishops.
- Catholic guidance on cremation and funerals.
- Prayers for Death and Dying.
Whether you are planning ahead or facing a loss today, please let us know how we can help. We would be honored to pray with you and accompany your family.