Catholic Funeral Mass Program
The full order of the Funeral Mass, from the Introductory Rites to the Final Commendation.
1 sheet, printed both sides, folded once · US Letter
Mass of Christian Burial
Catholic Funeral Mass Program Template
A Catholic funeral has a set shape, and the program should follow it. This template lays out the Funeral Mass in its four parts, from the Introductory Rites to the Final Commendation, with a place beside each reading, psalm and hymn for the name of the reader or cantor. Change the readings and music to the ones chosen with your parish, and the order itself is already correct.
The Mass program, and the same design in other folds
Catholic funeral program templates
The first carries the order of the Mass. The other three use the same cross design with a general order of service you can retype.
Inside the Mass program
The order of the Funeral Mass as it prints
Order of the Funeral Mass
Cover and back panel
The order
Catholic funeral Mass order of service
The Funeral Mass follows the Order of Christian Funerals. A printed program normally lists these parts:
Introductory Rites
- Greeting and sprinkling of the casket with holy water
- Placing of the pall, often by family members
- Entrance procession and hymn
- Collect (opening prayer)
Liturgy of the Word
- First Reading, from the Old Testament (in Easter season, from Acts or Revelation)
- Responsorial Psalm, usually sung
- Second Reading, from the New Testament letters
- Gospel Acclamation and Gospel
- Homily
- Universal Prayer (Prayers of the Faithful)
Liturgy of the Eucharist
- Presentation of the gifts
- Eucharistic Prayer
- The Lord’s Prayer and Sign of Peace
- Holy Communion
- Prayer after Communion
Final Commendation
- Words of remembrance, if the parish permits them here
- Song of Farewell and prayer of commendation
- Procession to the place of committal
Your parish has the final word on the order, the readings and the music. Bring a draft of the program to the priest or parish staff before you print; most are glad to check it.
Choices to make with the parish
Readings, music and the eulogy
Readings are chosen from those the Lectionary provides for funerals. Families commonly choose Wisdom 3:1–9 or Isaiah 25:6–9 for the first reading, Psalm 23 or Psalm 27, Romans 8:31–39 or 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 for the second, and John 14:1–6 or John 11:17–27 for the Gospel. Print the citation, not the full text, unless your parish supplies wording it has permission to reproduce.
Music in the Mass is sacred music. Favourite secular songs are usually kept for the vigil or the reception. A eulogy as such is not part of the Mass; many parishes allow one person to offer brief words of remembrance, and longer tributes fit naturally at the vigil the evening before.
Many programs also print a short note about Holy Communion for guests who are not Catholic. The sample wording on the back panel is one common, courteous form.
Before and after the Mass
The vigil and the committal
A Catholic funeral has three moments: the Vigil for the Deceased (the wake), the Funeral Mass, and the Rite of Committal at the grave or columbarium. If cremated remains are present, the Mass is the same and the pall is omitted. One program can cover all three by listing the vigil time on the cover and the committal on the back panel, as the template does.
Other churches
Baptist and Christian Funeral Programs
Including a homegoing celebration.
Open →
En español
Funeral Program in Spanish
Headings and sample wording in Spanish.
Open →
Compare traditions
Funeral Order of Service
How the sequence differs by faith.
Open →
Questions families ask
Does a Catholic funeral Mass program need the words of the prayers?
No. A program lists the parts of the Mass, the readings by citation and the hymn titles. The spoken prayers and responses belong to the Roman Missal and are under copyright, and Catholics know them by heart. A parish that wants responses printed will usually provide an insert.
What do I write about Communion for non-Catholic guests?
A typical line is: Catholics who are prepared are welcome to receive Communion; all others are invited to come forward for a blessing or to remain in prayer. Ask your priest for the wording he prefers.
Is this program suitable for a funeral liturgy without a Mass?
Yes. For a Funeral Liturgy outside Mass, delete the Liturgy of the Eucharist section; the Introductory Rites, Liturgy of the Word and Final Commendation remain.
Can a eulogy be listed in the program?
List it as Words of Remembrance and place it where your parish puts it, most often after the Prayer after Communion. Check first, because practice differs from one diocese to another.
Free funeral templates · Updated through October 2026 · by David Nelsen. Every name, date and place printed on these templates is invented sample wording; each file is opened in Microsoft Word and Google Docs before it is published.