Funeral Arrangements

Our parish family here at St. Luke the Evangelist wish to offer you our deepest condolences and sympathies at this time of loss. We offer our prayers, support and commitment to remember your loved one at the celebration of the Eucharist. We are also ready to assist you in any way we can during this time of loss and bereavement, both now and in the difficult days ahead.

In the face of death, the Church confidently proclaims that God has created each person for eternal life and that Jesus, the Son of God, by his death and resurrection, has broken the chains of death. Christians celebrate the funeral liturgy to offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for a life that has now been returned to God. Together we seek strength and consolation amidst our grief through prayer, song, and hearing God’s word. It is our hope that the funeral liturgy will be a source of comfort and strength.

We realize that there are many choices you need to make in preparation for the funeral and burial. To assist you in making some of the choices with respect to the funeral liturgy, we have prepared this guide to walk you through some of the options. We invite and encourage the participation of your family, not only in the preparation of the funeral liturgy, but also in the various ministries of the Mass such as the placing of the funeral pall, proclaiming the readings and presenting the gifts of bread and wine. At the same time, while we invite and encourage your participation, we are sensitive to and respectful of your choice not to participate in some or all of these ministries.

We have included information about the symbols and signs we use in the funeral liturgy, so that you may enter more deeply into this liturgy of farewell and the mystery of Christian death.

We would also invite your family to use, without charge, the hall in St. Luke’s Parish Center. The hall is available for a gathering of family and friends after the graveside service.

We are ready to assist you in the selections from the options given and to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to contact us at the rectory located at 70 West Main Street in Westborough or call us at 508-366-5502.

We look forward to sharing with you the hope that characterizes our life as Christians, the hope that tells us that somehow death is not the end but the beginning of a new life with God.