A Catholic funeral planning checklist for the days ahead
Work through the urgent arrangements first, then the liturgical and printed details. Leave uncertain choices open for the parish instead of forcing an answer during a difficult week.
The free builder turns this checklist into a private parish planning sheet.
- Live watermarked preview
- Private parish-review link
- Letter and A4 PDFs
- 90 days of active draft access
First calls and schedule
Contact the funeral home and parish, identify the parish funeral coordinator, confirm the presider if known, and coordinate the church, Vigil, cemetery, and reception schedule.
- Funeral home contact
- Parish and presider contact
- Church, cemetery, and reception locations
- Dates and times for each station
Service form and remains
Ask whether the central service will be a Funeral Mass, a Funeral Liturgy Outside Mass, a Memorial Mass, or another form directed by the parish. Record whether the body, cremated remains, or no remains will be present.
Readings and ministers
Review the parish’s approved choices, note preferences, and confirm who will proclaim each reading. The Gospel is proclaimed by the deacon or priest. Ask whether a Second Reading is used and whether Words of Remembrance are permitted.
- First Reading
- Responsorial Psalm
- Second Reading when used
- Gospel and intercessions
- Readers and other ministers
Music and musicians
Contact the parish music director, confirm available musicians and fees if any, then select music by placement. Record titles and performers without reproducing lyrics unless the required rights and notices are in place.
Program content and proofing
Gather the portrait, full name, dates, obituary or remembrance, acknowledgments, charitable request, reception details, and final service order. Ask one person to proof facts and another to compare the program with the parish-approved plan.
Printing and day-of copies
Download the reading copy for a print shop or the imposed home-print booklet. Print one test, check page order and image quality, then estimate copies for guests, ministers, family, the parish, and keepsakes.
Related Catholic funeral guides
What families ask
What should be planned first?
Start with the funeral home, parish contact, service date and locations, and whether the body or cremated remains will be present.
What can wait until the parish meeting?
Reading forms, music placements, ministers, Words of Remembrance, and ritual details can remain marked as questions until the parish confirms them.
Who should proof the program?
Use at least one family proofreader for names and dates and compare the final order with the parish-approved plan.
Is the planning sheet free?
Yes. The builder creates a clean parish planning-sheet PDF and the other supported program files free.