Your Eminences/Your Excellencies,
Following the review and approval of the English Sector Commission for Liturgy and the Sacraments, and the earlier approval in principle by the CCCB Executive Committee, you will find attached to this email a PDF version of the new CCCB pamphlet, “Cremation and Funeral Liturgies”.
This document is intended as a pastoral resource to accompany the 2018 CCCB publication, Order of Christian Funerals: Supplement for Celebrations with Cremated Remains.
Intended for the faithful in general, it has been developed specifically to assist and advise the bereaved or others involved in planning funerals; it provides basic information on the Church’s perspectives on death, praying for the deceased, mourning, funerals and cremation; and it summarizes the Church’s directives on the presence of the cremated remains within the funeral and on the proper respect to be shown for the disposition of the cremated remains. It thereby also indirectly reminds the faithful of the importance of involving the pastor and the parish in funeral preparations.
“Cremation and Funeral Liturgies” replaces an earlier CCCB text entitled “Catholics and Cremation”. A printed copy of the new publication is being provided with current sales of Order of Christian Funerals: Supplement for Celebrations with Cremated Remains.
The pamphlet can be printed and photocopied in a trifold format using 8 ½ x 11 inch paper. Dioceses, parishes and funeral homes may wish to use the attached PDF in order to print copies of the pamphlet. In addition, they may download or provide a link to the two formats which are available on the present webpage of the English Sector National Liturgy Office under the tabs Documents / Catholic Funerals.
As well, the same section of the webpage also provides an option for printing the text simply as a one-page letter-size document, recto verso, using 8 ½ x 11 inch paper. The same three options will likewise be available on the new CCCB website under the tabs Liturgy & Sacraments / Resources in English / Documents / Liturgical Resource Materials / Funerals. The new CCCB website is expected to be launched over the coming weeks.
Sincerely yours in Jesus with Mary,
Msgr. Frank Leo, Jr.
General Secretary
