"The death of a member of the Church should be reported as soon as possible to, and arrangements for the funeral should be made in consultation with, the Minister of the Congregation. Baptized Christians are properly buried from the church, although for pastoral reasons other locations may be considered." (From The Book of Common Prayer)

In the event of the death of a parishioner, please contact St Patrick’s Church directly by phone at (228) 863-7882 to begin the process of making appropriate funeral arrangements. The clergy will meet with the family to determine the place and the particularities of the worship. Prayers for the deceased and the grieving family members will be offered on the Sunday following the death. 

Usually the funeral home directors make arrangement for the clergy honorarium and the fees for sextons and organist. There is no fee for the church use if the deceased or the family of the deceased are members of St Patrick’s. If you would like to have the collation at St Patrick’s, the Florida room should be scheduled also. 

We encourage all parishioners to consider funeral planning ahead of time, making choices today that can help create peace of mind in the future. Funeral planning is a profound help to family members who, in many cases, would be uncertain of how to proceed with a loved one’s wishes. It is also a concrete way to prepare for a process that all of us will experience. Our Christian faith tells us that death, and preparing for that death, is not a failure or the end of hope. If you would like to talk to the clergy about pre-planning a funeral, please call for an appointment.