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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.”
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
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Let Us Help
Funeral Planning GuideIf you found this page through a search or were directed here by a parish staff member, please know that you and your family are in our prayers during this difficult time. We hope this information answers your immediate questions and offers comfort as you plan your loved one's funeral service.
Before Death: Advance PlanningSacramental Emergency Contact InformationIf your loved one is in danger of death or actively dying, call 812-357-6600 at any time for immediate sacramental assistance.During office hours, this number will ring at the parish office. After hours, it will ring at the Archabbey switchboard or security office. This number has been provided to hospital chaplains, long-term care centers and hospice personnel to ensure immediate access to the parish priest on call.Planning ResourcesIf your loved one is currently in hospice or a long-term care facility and near death, we can provide several helpful resources for immediate planning needs, including:- A missalette to guide you through prayers
- A sample funeral program to help you envision the service
- A copy of the book "Through Death to Life" offering spiritual comfort
Tell Us About Your Loved One: Complete the Biographical Information FormSelect the button below to complete your loved one's biographical information. After you complete the form, remember to use the submit button. Smartphone users may need to turn the screen sideways to view the complete form and to locate the submit button.
When completing the form, check one:- Information is for preplanning funeral arrangements
- Information is due to a death
After Death: First Steps
If your loved one has already died, please complete the Biographical Information form as soon as possible and contact the parish office at 812-357-5533.
Check for Prepaid Arrangements
Ask if your loved one made prepaid arrangements with a funeral home. If so, inquire at the funeral home whether any additional fees incurred by the funeral home, parish church or cemetery can be added to the plan. If there is a prepaid arrangement, all additional fees must be submitted to the funeral home director within five business days of the funeral service. Any overage the parish receives is invested in the parish cemetery endowment in memory of the deceased.
Schedule Your Planning Meeting
After receiving the Biographical Information form, we will arrange an in-person meeting at the parish office to finalize your loved one's arrangements using our parish resources and any requests you have made to the funeral director.
Day of Funeral: Service Details
Funeral Mass Schedule
Funerals are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Central Time or 11 a.m. Eastern Time. Generally, funerals are held on Wednesdays or Thursdays.
Visitation Options at the Church
If you held visitation at the funeral home the day before the funeral, you may schedule one hour of public visitation at the church, beginning at 9 a.m. on the day of the funeral.
If there was no visitation at the funeral home the day before the funeral Mass, the family may request up to two hours of public visitation immediately before the Mass of Christian Burial or Memorial Mass, which begins at 10 a.m.
Private Family Time Before Public Visitation
A 30-minute private gathering for immediate family may be scheduled before public visitation begins. This allows family members who could not attend the previous day's visitation to have time together, including grandchildren traveling from a distance, elderly relatives or siblings with mobility issues and individuals who are incarcerated and require a state or local law enforcement escort.
A private prayer service for the family can be scheduled during this time before the public visitation.
Processional and Introductory Rites
As the assembly sings the Gathering Hymn, the immediate family follows the processional cross, followed by the pallbearers accompanying the remains. The family follows in procession and gathers at the Paschal Candle near the sanctuary at the foot of the altar to place the pall as the Introductory Rites begin.
Pallbearers sit with their loved ones throughout the service, gathering again at the invitation of the funeral director at the conclusion of the service.
The Introductory Rites include the blessing of the mortal remains or cremated remains and clothing with the white garment, also known as a pall, sprinkling of holy water and placing of Christian symbols.
After the Funeral: Committal and Luncheon
Bereavement Luncheon
A bereavement luncheon may be arranged upon request to be held immediately after the Rite of Committal and interment at the cemetery. Information about the luncheon can be found at the link below.
Please note: If the family wishes to choose an alternative location for a bereavement luncheon, the parish will pay for the cost of the rental of the facility or assist in the cost of catering, up to $300. The meal is to be catered with staff from the vendor rather than parish volunteers.
For more information, contact the parish office at 812-357-5533.
Additional Resources
Select the "Planning Guide for Parishioner" or "Planning Guide for Non-Parishioner" button that best relates to your situation, or click to learn more about local customs or view Scripture reading selections for the service.
We are here to accompany you with compassion during this difficult time. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
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Additional Resources and Grief Support