A number of weeks ago, Bishop Taylor urged all the priests of Arkansas to update or compose for the first time our Wills, Durable Power of Attorney and Living Wills and send a copy of each to the diocese to be kept on file. This happened fairly early in the outbreak of the Coronavirus and he indicated that he was not being morbid or anticipating sickness or death for any priest, but given the fact that some of our priests have not attended to some or all of these documents and have died (sometimes suddenly), he wanted us to attend to these matters, as well as to specify our desires when it comes to our funeral services. I needed to update the choices I made for my funeral services, as the ones I made in my early years as a priest required some tweeking.
How about all of you? Have you taken the initiative to discuss with your loved ones or written anything down about your desires after your death, when it comes to funeral services? I have written before that I believe doing such a thing is a blessing for immediate family and for others. Every Catholic is entitled to a Mass of Resurrection when they die as we need not only the prayers from our family and friends for the happy repose of our soul, but also a way to affirm and confirm our belief in life everlasting with the Lord.
Since Deacon John has moved to Tennessee, I am the one, to whom you would speak and work with when it comes to making decisions and choices for your funeral services and interment afterward in a cemetery or columbarium (unless that has already been determined). Please remember that the Catholic Church, while permitting cremation, does not allow the scattering of a person's cremains.
Since I'm talking about cremation, let me remind you that we have niches available in at least one of the columbaria in our Columbarium Garden located behind the church parking lot. Please contact Buddy Dixon at 501-922-2811 for more information and costs of being interred on the parish grounds.
I will admit that making decions about my own funeral services was not a pleasant thing to do while I felt good after I finished knowing that this takes a burden off my family members and makes it clear what I want and what I believe will bring my family, brother priests, and friends comfort, strength and hope. Please call me at the church number 501-922-2062, ext. 11 and we will make an apointment to talk about this important matter.
How about all of you? Have you taken the initiative to discuss with your loved ones or written anything down about your desires after your death, when it comes to funeral services? I have written before that I believe doing such a thing is a blessing for immediate family and for others. Every Catholic is entitled to a Mass of Resurrection when they die as we need not only the prayers from our family and friends for the happy repose of our soul, but also a way to affirm and confirm our belief in life everlasting with the Lord.
Since Deacon John has moved to Tennessee, I am the one, to whom you would speak and work with when it comes to making decisions and choices for your funeral services and interment afterward in a cemetery or columbarium (unless that has already been determined). Please remember that the Catholic Church, while permitting cremation, does not allow the scattering of a person's cremains.
Since I'm talking about cremation, let me remind you that we have niches available in at least one of the columbaria in our Columbarium Garden located behind the church parking lot. Please contact Buddy Dixon at 501-922-2811 for more information and costs of being interred on the parish grounds.
I will admit that making decions about my own funeral services was not a pleasant thing to do while I felt good after I finished knowing that this takes a burden off my family members and makes it clear what I want and what I believe will bring my family, brother priests, and friends comfort, strength and hope. Please call me at the church number 501-922-2062, ext. 11 and we will make an apointment to talk about this important matter.