It is a corporal work of mercy to bury the dead, and while we might not think of it very often, it’s helpful to keep in mind that it is part of the mission of every parish church throughout the world. So I would like to reflect here on what it means to bury the dead, and how we might do it well here at St. Elizabeth of Hungary.
We know that death is not final for those who belong to Christ. We have hope, not only that the deceased will share in the peace of Christ, but that they will also rise on the last day, finally sharing completely in His Resurrection. The focal point of a funeral is not so much the deceased person him- or herself, but rather the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and our hope that He will welcome the deceased — and us! — into His loving embrace.
One simple way that we can all participate in the work of burying the dead is to attend the funerals of our parishioners, even of those we didn’t know well. Grieving families will be consoled to have many people show up to pray for their loved one.
At St. Elizabeth, our Altar Guild plays three very important roles in carrying out this work of mercy. First, all Guild members are notified whenever a funeral is scheduled at the parish. Secondly, the Guild assists with the placing of the pall on the casket and some other aspects of the Funeral Mass. Finally, the Guild often hosts a post-funeral reception for family and friends. What a blessing to our parish!
I heartily encourage all parishioners to consider joining the Altar Guild and supporting their fundraisers. If you’d like to become a member, or need to update your contact information so that you can stay informed, please contact our Guild President, Michelle Orosco at 214-683-4883. Please visit their page on our parish website (under the “Serve” heading) to learn more.
With November right around the corner, I’ll also take this opportunity to note our annual All Souls Day commemoration at Holy Redeemer Cemetery. Please join us at 10 am for Mass, followed by refreshments (courtesy of our Altar Guild) and a blessing of the graves.
Finally, I am pleased to welcome Letty Rangel to the parish office staff as our new Funeral Coordinator. Letty and her family have been parishioners here for several years, and I am thrilled to have her assisting me in this important ministry of our parish.