Consolation Ministry

The Consolation Ministry is dedicated to the Corporal Work of Mercy that commands Bury the Dead.   The Ministry’s role in that Corporal Work is to support grieving families by assisting with the funeral Mass liturgy. The Ministry is notified when a funeral is scheduled at St. Mary’s. A team member calls and arranges to meet with a family contact to discuss and decide the music and readings for the Funeral Mass. At the Funeral Mass, ministers attend to assist as altar servers, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Lectors, escorts to readers, and give general support to the mourners, all as needed for that particular funeral.

Further, on some occasions, the Ministry is called to be a presence at a Funeral Mass when there are few mourners to pray for the deceased. This blessed Ministry is open to those who feel a calling to assist families at a crisis time for them as they mourn a loved one. New members are welcome and can make their interest in serving known to the Ministry through the Parish Office for review by Fr. Bob. All volunteers are required to complete VIRTUS training.