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Guide for The Final Journey

A Catholic wake and funeral give us space to mourn and pray for the souls of our departed family and friends. They also bring consolation by reminding us of the great hope that Christ’s Resurrection gives us all.

 “…We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence.”  2 Cor 4:14

The passing of a loved one can be an emotional and busy time, with many matters to handle at short notice. This page contains the information needed to help your Catholic relative or friend prepare for a holy death and thereafter honoured with a reverent wake, funeral and burial/interment.

Anointing of The Sick

This Sacrament grants God’s forgiveness and can bring great comfort and healing to your loved one during this time of suffering. As soon as illness or old age makes death likely, request this sacrament from a priest at your parish. You do not need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive this Sacrament. It is encouraged that you arrange for this sacrament when the dying individual is conscious and sober, so that he can be prepared for any eventuality.

Find out more about this Sacrament

Things to Discuss with Your Dying Loved One

The end of life can understandably cause fear, uncertainty, even a sense of hopelessness and despair. Yet, with good preparation and support, many find solace and peace in our Lord as they prepare to meet Him in His eternal glory.

According to the Order of Christian Funerals, planning a funeral before death “can have the effect of helping the one who is dying and the family face the reality of death with Christian hope. It can also help relieve the family of numerous details after the death and may allow them to benefit more fully from the celebration of the funeral rites.” (OCF 17)

Beyond the administrative matters, consider having a conversation with your dying loved one that could help them, and your family, mentally and spiritually prepare for their departure.

The aim of this conversation is to remove any fears and regrets your dying loved one might have, allowing them to meet God with a sense of peace and assurance. This conversation can also help your family reach a place of acceptance, knowing that you’ve done all you can with no regrets, and help you cope with the eventual loss.

You can also take this opportunity to pray with your loved one.

If you feel uncomfortable or unable to facilitate this conversation, consider finding a professional who can help you.

Wake & Funeral Guide

1. Contact a funeral company

If you would like a funeral director, besides searching the internet, you can also check out the Catholic News (print edition) which carries advertisements for funeral services. You may also contact the St. Joseph Dying Aid Association. These companies can help arrange the funeral booking with the parish, and other matters (e.g. the embalming, casket, obituary, wake and cremation/burial). 

2. Essential documents

These are needed to book the parlour for the wake, the funeral service/Mass, and to book a burial plot or columbarium niche:

  • Deceased’s baptism certificate or baptismal extract
    • If you do not have the original document, request a baptismal extract from the parish where the deceased was baptised.
  • Deceased’s death certificate
    • Download the digital death certificate from the My Legacy portal
      • Documents needed to obtain the death certificate
        • Deceased’s NRIC, FIN, or passport number
        • Death document number (from the hospital or doctor who certifies death)
        • Date of death
3. Wake
  • The wake may be held in the house, void deck or at a wake parlour.  
  • You can ask the parish if it has a bereavement ministry to conduct prayers at the wake.
    • You may invite other prayer groups to pray at the wake.
    • Do note that Mass will not be offered at the wake.
4. Funeral Arrangement

Funeral Arrangement Policy in Singapore

Funerals are often a time of distress for families and funeral arrangements under these circumstances can be challenging to coordinate multiple issues. The Archdiocese of Singapore, in helping to streamline the course of action for families of the deceased, is establishing broad principles which would assist the families.

  1. As a principle the funeral is normally arranged at the parish of the deceased.
  2. The parish of the deceased is determined by the parish that he/she normally had been attending for their Masses and liturgical services.
  3. Before arranging a time or day of funeral and cremation, do contact the parish concerned to determine the availability of a priest.
  4. In the event that the parish that was contacted is not the parish of the deceased, it would be the duty of the secretary to forward the information to the relevant parish and inform the families concerned.
  5. The parish secretary will assist in sourcing a priest of the parish or another priest for the families to conduct the funeral rites.
  6. For all other logistics in relation to the funeral day and rites, it will then be directed to the parish that will be conducting the funeral.
  7. In the case of dispute, the territorial parish will assume responsibility for the funeral.
  8. If the parish venue is not available, the parish should arrange for an alternative venue.
  9. In exceptional cases, the Mass for the funeral can be held at the venue of the wake.

Senate Communications – August 2018