While it, thankfully, doesn't happen very often, it was indeed quite a challenge a few weeks ago when we had four funeral Masses in a ten-day period. Firstly, I want to thank all those who are involved with our bereavement ministry in the immediate time before, during and after funerals. This includes liturgical ministers (ushers, altar servers, sacristans and lectors), our group of ladies headed up by Chris Frantz who work with the families in the set-up in the narthex of pictures and memora-bilia of the deceased person, and attending the guest book (and other actions of hospitality toward the families of the deceased, our Resurrection choir led by Kathleen Kinney, and our Ladies of the Sacred Heart who host wonderful receptions afterward with food and drink for those who come. I and the families can always count on these people to step up and bless the bereaved families and all who come to our funeral liturgies (including as needed our Knights of Columbus honor guard). And I almost forgot Shawn Clark and Mike Miller who make themselves available to livestream our funeral liturgies (and they do so every Sunday for our shut-ins at the Sunday 8:00 a.m. Mass). As you can see it is clearly a team effort that is appreci-ated by me, the family of the deceased and all who participate in our funeral liturgies! I am ALWAYS grateful when I have a completed and filed funeral planning sheet that contains much of what the deceased person wants at his or her funeral such as songs, readings, and people who they want to take on various roles (as lectors, gift bearers, remarks of remembrance), which make our Resurrection Masses beautiful and meaningful. If any-one reading this has not taken the time to fill out some or all of the funeral planning forms (that can be accessed at the church office or in one of the slots over the credenza leading from the narthex into the Administration/Classroom wing of our parish building). Please consider doing so and drop off the form at the church office. Even if you don't fill out the whole thing, it is helpful for me to have on hand (and you a copy of what you want after you depart from this world). Recently I was aware of a local parishioner who died whose family didn't contact me about ANY funeral liturgy for their mother. This dear lady was at Mass every Saturday night for years with her husband and deserved, as all Catholics do, a funeral Mass for brothers and sisters in the Lord (and family members) to lift them up to the Lord with the most powerful prayer we have, the Mass! Finally, I want to remind everyone that if a person is cremated (preferably after the funeral Mass) his or her cremains (in an urn) should be interred as soon after the cremation is done either in the ground or in a columbarium. It is NEVER okay to divide cremains among family members. The entire person's cremains need to be in blessed grounds or in a niche in a columbarium that has been blessed. That is another decision that should be made (if at all possible) before a person dies and followed through by the family as soon after the funeral Mass as is practically possible. I am ready to answer any questions you have and even sit down to discuss the funeral planning form with you and help you in addressing some or all the choices you have for your funeral liturgy. Get it done! your family (and I) will thank you for doing so!