Christopher Carstens

      The ministry of consolation, says the Order of Christian Funerals, is the responsibility of the entire believing community, each member participating “according to the various gifts and offices in the Church” (n.9). This session will look at the various stations of the funeral rite–the vigil, funeral liturgy, and rite of committal–with an emphasis on the roles that deacons and lay leaders can assume in the absence of a priest.