How a secular funeral differs from a Catholic one
In brief
- at a secular ceremony, a funeral celebrant leads the farewell in place of a priest
- at a secular ceremony the final farewell usually takes place in a farewell room or a cemetery chapel
- a secular funeral is usually shorter than a Catholic one
A funeral celebrant or a priest
A Catholic funeral is led by a priest, a secular funeral by a funeral celebrant. The course of the ceremony depends on the faith and wishes of the deceased and of the family. The main differences are set out below.
How does a secular funeral differ from a Catholic funeral?
The table sets out the main differences.
| Catholic funeral | Secular funeral | |
|---|---|---|
| Who leads it | a priest | a funeral celebrant |
| Choice of who leads it | usually a priest from the deceased’s parish | the family chooses the celebrant |
| Order of ceremony | follows the liturgy of the Catholic Church | agreed with the family: music, speeches, memories |
| Place of farewell | a church or chapel | farewell room, cemetery chapel or graveside |
| Length | usually longer | usually shorter |
At a secular funeral the family can decide on every element of the ceremony, in line with the wishes of the deceased, and add their own parts to it.
The final farewell at a secular ceremony
A secular ceremony usually takes place in a farewell room or a cemetery chapel, sometimes at the graveside. The celebrant agrees the order of ceremony beforehand with the closest family.
Welcome
The ceremony begins with music, after which the celebrant welcomes those present with a short address.
The life story
The celebrant tells the story of the life of the person who has died, based on an earlier conversation with the family.
Memories and photographs
The ceremony may include a presentation of photographs and memories from the person’s life.
A minute’s silence and the final journey
The ceremony ends with a minute’s silence, after which the deceased is accompanied to the place of burial.
