BRIDGEPORT—Bishop Frank J. Caggiano has issued a decree formally promulgating the new Funeral Norms and the Norms for the Order of Christian Funerals in the Diocese of Bridgeport, which are now available in their entirety online (see links below).
The norms will go into effect as the Liturgical Law of the Diocese of Bridgeport on the First Sunday of Advent, November 29, 2020. They will be subject to future revision five years from the date of publication.
The bishop issued the decree today (November 22, 2020 ) on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Prior to the promulgation the new Norms were presented to the Presbyterate of the Diocese for review and have been duly approved by the Council of Priests.
The 22-page document was created after a two-year process coordinated by the diocesan Leadership Institute and the Liturgical Commission. It offers a comprehensive guide to all norms and considerations in a Catholic funeral including music, the homily, flowers, words of praise, the participation of family members and the responsibility of clergy and funeral directors, and all those involved in the funeral rites.
The introduction to the newly revised norms states, “From the beginning of the Church, Christian funeral rites and burial have been an important spiritual and pastoral practice. Our Catholic faith understands death as the entrance into eternity. It expresses a hope in the resurrection of the dead won for us in Christ’s Death and Resurrection. We also recognize the value of prayer for the deceased and show reverence for the body which remain Since the Christian response to death stands as a witness to Christian belief regarding life here and hereafter, our rites and ceremonies connected with Christian death and burial unite us to the paschal mystery of Christ’s victory over sin and death and must remain consonant with this belief.“
The decree states that with the provision of the new Norms, any and all customs until now practiced, as well as all existing liturgical norms regarding funerals are abrogated.
Click for Bishop’s Decree for the Promulgation of Funeral Norms
Click for Funeral Norms for the Order of Christian Funerals
Click here for resources about Catholic Funerals and pre-planning.
Click here for information on the Norms, educational resources, and more.
