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Funeral Sacristans Carry Out Essential Work During Difficult Time
While the death of a loved one certainly presents a trying time, we are truly blessed with love and community as we celebrate our loved one’s life during their funeral. As the United States Council of Catholic Bishops says, “Funerals give us the opportunity to grieve and show others support during difficult times. Through our prayers and actions during these times we show our respect for life, which is always a gift from God, and comfort to those who mourn.”
In the case of most funerals, there are just a few days to prepare. For our priests, this means adjusting schedules to make time to spend with grieving friends and family.
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Thus, the role of funeral sacristan is particularly important, as members make preparations for Mass while our priests are providing pastoral care to the bereaved.
Fr. Jim Golka says sacristans are trusted individuals who help prepare and care for the items needed for the Mass.
“A funeral is one of the most important things we do as a Church,” he says. “We not only assist the family in praying for eternal rest for their loved one, but we also spend time with the family providing assurances of our faith.”
Besides helping our priests, the sacristans also gain their own blessings.
“I’ve had sacristans tell me that this is one of the most fulfilling things they do,” Fr. Jim says. “They know that they are helping a family at a critical moment.”
Fr. Jim Golka invites faithful and humble parishioners to get involved as a funeral sacristan. As he points out, sacristans have the privilege of learning more about the Catholic faith.
