We offer our heartfelt condolences if you are currently making funeral arrangements following the loss of a loved one. If you are planning ahead for yourself, we are here to help ensure your wishes are known and honored.
At St. David the King, we welcome your involvement in planning the funeral liturgy for your loved one. Whether you wish to be highly involved or prefer to leave the details to us, we are here to assist you every step of the way. The following information outlines the steps you will need to take when planning a Mass of Christian Burial.
Initial Steps After a Loved One’s Death
After the death of a loved one, the family’s first point of contact is a local funeral home. The funeral home will then reach out to the parish office to coordinate the funeral liturgy. The parish, in collaboration with the funeral home, will set the dates for visitation, the Mass of Christian Burial, and interment as needed.
Meeting with Parish Staff
Once the funeral date is confirmed, a member of our parish staff will contact the family to schedule a meeting at the church. During this meeting, we will assist you in selecting readings, music, and a cantor for the liturgy, and we will answer any questions you may have. This meeting also gives us the opportunity to learn more about your loved one, ensuring that the liturgy and homily are both personal and fitting.
Helpful Resources
To assist you in your planning, we have provided a list of common Old Testament and New Testament readings for Catholic funerals. Additionally, we have included our funeral planning sheet and a selection of music suggestions. We are happy to work with you to select the readings and music that best reflect your loved one’s life and faith.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to support you during this difficult time.
Eulogy Practice
We understand how important it is for families to share their memories and stories of their loved one. While personal eulogies are not part of the Funeral Mass, we warmly encourage family and friends to share those cherished reflections during the viewing or wake, or later at the repast. These moments often allow for a more relaxed and fitting space to honor your loved one’s life in a personal way.
Funeral Fee Breakdown
The following fees are associated with funeral arrangements at St. David the King.
Base Fee: $550
This fee covers the Funeral Mass and interment at the cemetery, as well as maintenance and janitorial expenses.
Music Fee: $450
This includes the cost of an organist and cantor, selected from a list of parish-approved musicians.
Viewing in Chapel Prior to Funeral Mass: $200
- This fee covers the setup and takedown for the viewing, including art easels to display memorabilia of the deceased.
- Viewing in the chapel is available Tuesday through Friday prior to the funeral liturgy.
- Morning viewing can be from 1-3 hours long, but cannot start prior to 10:00 AM due to the parish daily Mass at 9:00 AM.
Repast After Funeral Mass in the Great Hall: $425
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- $300 cleaning fee
- $125 event insurance fee
Outside Clergy
If the family wishes to have a priest who is not assigned to St. David the King Parish officiate the funeral, they must first coordinate with the parish office to schedule the funeral prior to or in conjunction with making arrangements with the outside clergyman. It is the family’s responsibility to communicate directly with the priest regarding any stipend he may require.
Any priest serving at St. David the King must be in good standing and must provide either a New Jersey Suitability Card or a Letter of Good Standing from their bishop to the parish business manager before the Mass or service.
Please note: Only Fr. Jason is assigned to St. David the King Parish.
Important Notes:
- The use of the Great Hall is available only to active parishioners and is subject to availability on the church calendar.
- If hosting a repast, we kindly ask that caterers provide servers for the event.
- *Evening viewing is not available due to the parish events schedule and staff limitations.
- As a parish community, we deeply share in the sorrow of any parishioner who experiences the devastating loss of a child. In these moments of profound grief, it is our mission to offer compassionate support and care. Therefore, the parish will humbly assume the costs associated with the funeral liturgy, ensuring that no family bears an additional burden as they entrust their beloved child to God’s eternal embrace.
- Being a single-priest parish we are unable to provide graveside services for cemeteries located outside of Mercer County. We suggest you consult with the funeral home to contact a parish closer to your chosen cemetery (if it is outside Mercer County) or to make other arrangements through the funeral home for the graveside prayers to be said.
Payment Due:
Payment for all services is due the morning of the Funeral Mass.
*Note on Funeral Liturgies Outside of Mass
While the Funeral Mass is the ordinary and preferred form of the Church’s liturgy for the faithful departed, there are pastoral circumstances in which a Funeral Liturgy Outside of Mass may be more appropriate—particularly when the family is largely non-Catholic or not practicing.
In such cases, a Mass intention for the repose of the soul of the deceased will be scheduled at a later date, so that the Eucharistic sacrifice may still be offered on their behalf. Please speak with the priest or pastoral staff if you believe this may apply to your family’s situation.