Catholic funerals in Australia: rites, customs and what to expect

Catholicism is the largest single denomination in Australia, with roughly 20% of the population identifying as Catholic in the 2021 Census. Catholic funerals follow a structure that has remained largely consistent for centuries, though the Church has adapted several practices over the past 60 years, most notably its position on cremation.

For families arranging a Catholic funeral and for those attending one, this guide covers what happens at each stage, what the Church permits and does not permit, and how these traditions are practised in Australian parishes.

The three stages of a Catholic funeral

A Catholic funeral in Australia typically moves through three distinct rites, sometimes across two days.

The Vigil (the evening before)

The Vigil for the Deceased is a prayer service held the night before the funeral, usually at the family home, the funeral home, or the parish church. Families gather to pray, share memories of the deceased, and often recite the Rosary. The vigil is not a formal liturgy in the way the funeral mass is. It is more intimate, and the structure varies between parishes and families.

Some families combine the vigil with a viewing of the deceased in an open casket. Others hold a simpler prayer gathering without a viewing. The format is flexible, and the parish priest or a lay minister can lead it.

The Funeral Mass (or Funeral Liturgy)

The central rite is the church service. This takes one of two forms: a Funeral Mass (which includes the full Eucharist and Holy Communion) or a Funeral Liturgy outside Mass (which follows a similar structure but without Communion).

A typical funeral mass includes the reception of the body at the church doors, the placing of a white pall over the coffin (symbolising baptism), scripture readings, a homily by the priest, the Prayers of the Faithful, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the Final Commendation and Farewell, and the sprinkling of holy water and incensing of the coffin.

The homily is not a eulogy. The priest speaks about the Christian hope of resurrection, not primarily about the life of the deceased. A separate eulogy may be delivered by a family member, typically before the final commendation, though this varies by parish. Some parishes welcome eulogies; others limit them or place them before mass begins.

The Rite of Committal

The final stage takes place at the cemetery or crematorium. The priest leads prayers of committal as the coffin is lowered into the ground or enters the cremation chamber. This is a shorter rite, focused on entrusting the deceased to God and offering comfort to the mourners.

If the funeral mass and committal happen at different locations (church then cemetery), the funeral procession travels between them. If a cremation follows, some families hold the committal at the crematorium chapel immediately after the church service.

Cremation and the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church prohibited cremation for centuries but lifted the ban in 1963. Today, cremation is permitted provided it is not chosen for reasons contrary to Christian teaching (for example, as a denial of bodily resurrection).

However, the Church places strict conditions on what happens with the ashes. The Vatican's 2016 instruction Ad resurgendum cum Christo states that cremated remains must be:

• Kept intact (not divided among family members)
• Placed in a sacred location: a cemetery, columbarium, or memorial wall
• Not scattered in the air, on land, at sea, or in any other way
• Not kept in the family home, except where the local bishop grants a temporary exception

This is a point many Australian Catholic families are not aware of. Scattering ashes at a favourite beach or keeping an urn on the mantelpiece, while common in secular practice, is not permitted under Catholic teaching. The parish priest will typically discuss this with the family during funeral planning.

Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW operates several cemeteries and columbaria across Sydney and regional NSW specifically for this purpose.

Music and the funeral liturgy

The Catholic Church has clear preferences about music during the funeral mass. Sacred music (hymns, psalms, liturgical chants) is expected during the liturgy itself. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the National Liturgical Council note that secular music is considered foreign to the ethos of the funeral liturgy.

In practice, this means the popular songs families associate with the deceased (a favourite rock song, a movie soundtrack, a football anthem) are generally not permitted during the mass. Some parishes allow a secular piece at the very end of the service as mourners leave, or at the committal, but this is at the priest's discretion.

Families who want a mix of sacred and secular music sometimes split the two: sacred music during the church service, secular music at a reception or wake afterwards.

When there is no priest available

Australia's declining number of Catholic clergy means some parishes cannot always provide a priest for every funeral. In these cases, a deacon or trained lay minister may lead the funeral liturgy (without mass, since only an ordained priest can celebrate the Eucharist).

This is more common in regional and rural Australia where parishes cover large geographic areas. The structure of the service remains largely the same, but without Holy Communion.

Integrating civic rites

In Australia, Catholic funerals sometimes incorporate civic ceremonies. RSL poppy services for veterans, firefighter or police farewells, and Masonic rites are occasionally requested alongside the Catholic liturgy.

The National Liturgical Council advises that civic rites should not take disproportionate time away from the funeral liturgy itself. In practice, most parishes accommodate a brief civic tribute (such as a poppy ceremony or the draping of a service flag on the coffin) either before the mass begins or at the committal, rather than during the liturgy.

Italian Australian Catholic funerals

A significant number of Catholic funerals in Australia follow Italian customs layered on top of the standard Catholic rite. The Italian-Australian community, concentrated in Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide, often observes a rosary night (veglia) the evening before the funeral, where the Rosary is recited in full, sometimes in Italian, at the family home or funeral home.

The funeral mass itself follows the standard Catholic structure, but the wake and mourning period may reflect Italian customs: extended family obligations, formal mourning dress, and a year's mind mass (a memorial mass on the first anniversary of the death).

Italian Australian funerals covers these cultural additions in more detail.

What to expect if you are attending

Catholic funerals are open to non-Catholics. There is no expectation that attendees share the faith. A few practical points for those attending:

Stand when the congregation stands, sit when they sit. During Holy Communion, non-Catholics remain seated or may approach with arms crossed over the chest for a blessing (though this practice varies by parish). Dress is typically formal, with dark or muted colours. Flowers are welcome, and many families request donations to a nominated charity in lieu of flowers.

The service typically lasts 45 minutes to an hour for a funeral mass. A funeral liturgy without mass is usually shorter.

Related information

• How much does a funeral cost in Australia?
• Non-religious and secular funeral ceremonies
• Italian Australian funerals
• Find a Catholic funeral director
• Back to: Australian funeral traditions

Frequently asked questions

What happens at a Catholic funeral?

A Catholic funeral follows three stages: a Vigil (prayer service the evening before), a Funeral Mass or Funeral Liturgy in a church, and the Rite of Committal at the graveside or crematorium. The funeral mass includes scripture readings, a homily, Holy Communion, and the Final Commendation.

Does the Catholic Church allow cremation?

Yes, since 1963. However, ashes must be kept intact and placed in a sacred location (cemetery, columbarium, or memorial wall). Scattering ashes, dividing them, or keeping them at home is not permitted under Vatican instruction.

Can you play secular music at a Catholic funeral?

The Church prefers sacred music during the liturgy. Secular songs are generally not permitted during the mass itself, though some parishes allow a secular piece at the very end or at the committal. Check with the parish priest beforehand.

What is the difference between a funeral mass and a funeral liturgy?

A funeral mass includes the full Eucharist (Holy Communion). A funeral liturgy outside mass follows a similar structure but without Communion. Either option is available to families.

Can a non-Catholic attend a Catholic funeral?

Yes. Catholic funerals are open to all. Non-Catholics are welcome to participate in the prayers and hymns. During Communion, non-Catholics remain seated or may approach for a blessing.