In the face of death, the Church confidently proclaims that God has created each person for eternal life and that Jesus, the Son of God, by his Death and Resurrection, has broken the chains of sin and death that bound humanity.

Upon the loss of a loved one, planning a funeral can be an overwhelming task. Our staff will assist as much as they are able in making the preparation for a funeral liturgy as smooth as possible. The procedure laid out below will assist you to prepare what is necessary for a proper Catholic funeral and burial.

  • Upon the loss of a loved one, please contact the parish office (701) 235-5757 to make arrangements for a Funeral and Wake (Vigil) service. This can be done through a local funeral home as well.
  • The family will come in to the parish office to meet with one of the priests to prepare the liturgy and share important information for the funeral. It is best to have this meeting at least 3-4 days before the funeral if at all possible, to allow time and communication for all involved with the liturgy.
  • If a meal is desired following the funeral, please make catering arrangements with the funeral home and be prepared to share information with the parish. Our parish family offers baked goods, coffee, and water for no charge in addition to volunteer servers to provide hospitality and comfort to you and your guests during a funeral meal.

Funeral Liturgy Planning

Some of the roles in the liturgy can be filled by family members.  Commonly a family member of the deceased would proclaim the readings or bring up the gifts at the offertory. These roles may be fulfilled by anyone who is prepared to serve in that particular role in the Catholic Church. In the event there are no family or friends of the deceased able to fulfill the necessary roles, our parish family is more than happy to offer a fellow parishioner to fulfill a role within the liturgy.

Liturgical Guidance with regards to Eulogies

There is no eulogy offered during the Funeral Mass. Should the family desire a time for sharing or special remembrances, this is appropriately done at the Vigil (Wake) service the night before the funeral.