Our pastor normally presides at the funeral Mass. If you would like to ask another priest, please obtain our pastor’s permission first and then contact the visiting priest directly. A deacon may preside at any funeral liturgy outside of Mass (Liturgy of the Word) or at any vigil service. For funeral liturgies held at the church, the parish Director of Liturgy and Music serves as organist/pianist and cantor. If you wish to have a cantor from the parish, those arrangements can be made through the Director of Liturgy and Music. If you wish to have other parish musicians, speak with the Director of Liturgy and Music to make those arrangements.  If you wish to have family members or friends serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, please discuss this with the pastor or Director of Liturgy and Music at the planning meeting. 

Saint Michael Poplar Springs Catholic Church will prepare a worship aid for the Funeral Liturgy. This is a standard worship aid. We ask that you choose a photo for the cover and send it to [email protected]. It is most helpful if the family can provide the parish with an estimate of the number of copies needed. 

Families are not required to provide flowers for the church. The casket will be covered with the pall during the liturgy therefore flowers cannot be placed on top of it. For liturgies with cremated remains, a small arrangement may be placed on the table that holds the urn. (You may wish to place a framed 8 ½” by 11” photo of the deceased near the urn.) 

Saint Michael Poplar Springs Funeral Meal Committee, when possible, offers all families the option of a luncheon following the funeral liturgy. Luncheons are presently held in the Fellowship Hall. The committee, made up of dedicated parishioners who choose to minister to your family and friends in this special way, takes care of the physical set-up of the room, serving the food and cleaning up after the event. The Bereavement Ministry requires two days’ notice for a luncheon request which is limited to a maximum of 100 persons. Because of various planned pre-school and parish activities, there will be times when the facilities are not available and a funeral luncheon cannot be provided. We ask for your understanding in this matter. 

There is no set charge made for the repast, but a free will offering is gratefully accepted. This helps the ministry continue to offer comfort and support to families who have lost loved ones. 

The fees for the church are as follows: 

• $200 for the priest 

• $200 for the Director of Liturgy and Music 

• $100 for Saint Michael Poplar Springs Catholic Church 

• If using a parish cantor, the suggested fee is $100 

• If involving other parish musicians, please speak director with them about their fee. 

• If musicians from outside the parish, a bench fee of $100 is to be paid to the Director of Liturgy and Music. 

• Livestream Fee is $100 (check to St. Michael Poplar Springs Catholic Church) 

• Funeral Luncheon on Repast – Free will offering. Check made out to St. Michael Funeral Luncheon. 

The parish Stream Team can be contacted by the pastor to arrange for the livestreaming of the Funeral Mass. There is a fee of $100 for this service. The link to our parish website can be shared with friends and family who cannot be at the funeral in person. They can watch the livestream or watch the recording at a later time.  

The Music Ministry at Saint Michael Poplar Springs extends to you our deepest sympathy. We realize that at such a time it may be difficult to think about music for the Funeral Liturgy. To assist you with the funeral service music we have developed the following guide.  

The following is a list of suggested hymns that our parish community knows and frequently sings at funerals. You may use this list as a guide. If you care to make other selections, if there is a specific song you would like included, or if you need other help with the funeral music please discuss this with the Director of Liturgy and Music.  

One Responsorial Psalm and one Communion hymn should be chosen and up to three other hymns may also be selected. If you would like to use a hymn or piece of music that is not included in this list, please contact the Director of Liturgy and Music to discuss the selection. If you have no specific music preferences the Music Ministry will gladly make the selections for you. 

A worship aid will be provided and includes song numbers for congregational singing. If you need any assistance in selecting music or would like to discuss involving any outside musician or singer, please contact the Director of Liturgy and Music.  

SECTION A: Hymn suggestions (Choose 2 or 3) 

Best use:  G-Gathering; P-Preparation of the Gifts; C-Closing 

A Rightful Place G, C 

Abide with Me G, C  

All Is Well with My Soul G, C 

Alleluia! Sing to Jesus* G, C 

Amazing Grace G, C 

As Christ Is for Us P 

Be Not Afraid G, C 

Be Thou My Vision P 

Center of My Life P 

Christ Be Beside Me G, C 

Christ, Be Our Light G, C 

Christ in Me Arise P 

City of God G, C 

Drawn to You P 

Eternal Father, Strong to Save C  

For the Beauty of the Earth G, C 

Gather Us In G 

God, We Praise You G, C 

Hallelujah Is Our Song* G, C 

Here I Am, Lord G, C 

Holy God, We Praise Thy Name G, C 

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty G, C 

How Can I Keep from Singing P 

How Great Thou Art C 

I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say G, C 

I Know that My Redeemer Lives G, C 

I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light G, C 

In the Day of the Lord C 

Jesus Christ Is Risen Today* G, C 

Join in the Dance G, C 

Joyful, Joyful We Adore You G, C 

Let There Be Peace on Earth C 

Lord of All Hopefulness G, C 

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling G, C 

Morning Has Broken G, C 

Now Thank We All Our God G, C 

O God, Our Help in Ages Past G, C 

On Eagle’s Wings G, C 

Prayer of St. Francis P 

Precious Lord, Take My Hand P 

Sing a New Song* G, C 

Sing with All the Saints Glory G, C 

The King of Love My Shepherd Is P 

The Strife Is O’er* G, C 

We Walk by Faith C 

*These hymns may not be used during the Season of Lent as they contain the word ‘Alleluia’. 

SECTION B: Responsorial Psalm (Choose one. The Director of Liturgy and  

Music will choose its musical setting) 

Psalm 23: 1-3, 4, 5, 6 The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. 

Psalm 25: 6 and 7b, 17-18, 20-21 To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. 

Psalm 27: 1, 4, 7 and 8b and 9a, 13-14 The Lord is my light and my salvation. OR 

I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. 

Psalm 42: 2, 3, 5cdef; 43:3, 4, 5 My soul is thirsting for the living God: when shall I  

see him face to face? 

Psalm 63: 2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.  

Psalm 103: 8 and 10, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18 The Lord is kind and merciful. 

Psalm 116: 5, 6, 10-11, 15-16ac  I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of  

the living. 

Psalm 122: 1-2, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 I rejoiced when I heard them say: let us go to the  

house of the Lord. OR Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. 

Psalm 130: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6ab, 6c-7, 8 Out of the depths, I cry to you, Lord. OR I hope in the  

Lord, I trust in his word. 

SECTION C: Communion Hymns (Choose one) 

Amen. El Cuerpo de Cristo 

Bread for the World 

Bread of Life 

Eat This Bread 

Gift of Finest Wheat 

I Am the Bread of Life 

I Received the Living God 

Life-Giving Bread, Saving Cup 

Miracle of Grace (Bread of Life) 

One Bread, One body 

One Love Released 

Seed, Scattered and Sown 

Shepherd me, O God  

Take and Eat 

Taste and See 

The Body of Christ