Parish Support
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Links
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AREA FUNERAL HOMES
- Green Family Funeral Home
- Wood-Kortright-Borkoski Funeral Home
- Shorts-Spicer-Crislip Funeral Homes
- Carlson Funeral Homes
- Bissler & Sons Funeral Home
- Rosaries From Flowers
- One Caring Place
- Planning & Understanding the Catholic Funeral
- The Real Purpose of a Catholic Funeral
- What To Do Before, During & After a Funeral Service
- What To Say At A Funeral
- Helping a Friend Cope With Grief
- What To Say When You Don’t Know What to Say
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Funerals
The staff at St. Ambrose will assist you in every way in planning the funeral for your loved one. To help you choose appropriate readings and music. A meeting with the pastor or a member of the staff will help you complete the liturgy planning process. You may also choose to have visitation at the church prior to the Mass.
As a way of expressing our support in your time of sorrow, St. Ambrose Hall is available (schedule permitting) for a bereavement luncheon, provided by our bereavement luncheon committee or with outside catering.
Please contact the Parish Office as soon as possible after the death of your loved one so that we may help you during your time of sorrow. The standard procedure for a funeral at St. Ambrose Church is that a funeral director works with parish staff to set up the details of the visitation, funeral Mass or liturgy, luncheon, and interment. Normally the procedure is that, after news of death, the funeral home is contacted first. The funeral home will then contact the Parish Office to determine times and dates for a funeral Mass/Liturgy. The family will meet with the funeral director. Family members should then contact the Parish Office (330-527-4105) to arrange for a meeting with the priest, deacon, or pastoral minister to help choose scripture readings, hymns, and other details of the funeral liturgy.
Funeral Luncheons
Currently, families may request the help of our bereavement luncheon committee or hire a caterer and use St. Ambrose Hall free of charge. We take care of setup, cleanup, and serving your meal so that the family may visit and console each other. If you are interested, please contact Sue Wolanin.
“The Church through its funeral rites
commends the dead to God’s merciful love
and pleads for the forgiveness of their sins…
[and] brings hope and consolation to the living.”– General Introduction to the Order of Christian Funerals, nos. 6-7
Funeral Planning Steps
Contact Parish to notify of the death
Set up a meeting with the funeral home director to make arrangements
Choose Readings (one Old Testament, one New Testament, Gospel)
& possible readersChoose Music (Opening Song, Responsorial Psalm, Preparation Song, Communion Song, Processional or Closing Song)
Choose people to bring forward the gifts at Communion time
Decide if someone will say Remarks of Remembrance
Plan luncheon or reception arrangements
Stipends
All parishioners are entitled to our ministries without charge. Also, we would not exclude anyone who is not formally registered or has not been able to contribute financially to the parish. However, you may make arrangements with your funeral director for the customary offerings: • Offering to the presider: $100.00 • Offering to the church: $100.00 • Offering to the parish musicians (pianist & cantor): $150.00
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Bereavement Support
Seasons of Hope, a bereavement support program, meets for a series of six weekly gatherings each fall and spring. Sessions help us explore mourning through Scripture, prayer, reflection activities, and faith sharing. The goal is to provide a faith community setting in which the words of Jesus speak the compassion of God. Seasons of Hope is centered on Jesus Christ and grounded in the healing wisdom, traditions, and practices of the Catholic Church. For those searching for hope, this group is a nurturing link to the Church, the Almighty, and other people of faith who are also mourning. Please, come and be comforted.
St. Ambrose Parish is currently working on offering this bereavement program, Seasons of Hope, seasonally as interest is shown. The program requires a group of participants; therefore, we ask for registration. If you wonder whether this program is for you, please contact Deacon Gerry Scopilliti (330-569-4795).
Mass of Remembrance
This liturgical celebration is held on All Soul's Day, November 2, every year, to those who have lost loved ones, especially in the past year. Within the context of the Mass, those present remember their loved ones who have died in prayer, song, and lighting candles of remembrance. A reception of fellowship usually follows in the parish hall. Many who are grieving have expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of support offered by the parish community at this liturgy.
Offering Sympathy
Several parishioners regularly attend calling hours and funerals for parishioners and family members who have passed away as another aspect of parish support.