Mission: The Bereavement Ministers share compassionate mercy with people at a very difficult time in their lives, by assisting them the day of the funeral at the Mass of Christian Burial and providing/serving a meal for gathered bereaved family and friends.
Policy: The bereavement ministers volunteer in teams that rotate in preparing and serving a meal following the funeral/burial of a loved one, as well as serving as greeters at the funeral Mass.   Each team will have a team leader.  Team leaders are asked to commit to serve for a 3 year period. 
Team Leader Responsibilities:

• Act as liaison between the church and the ministry team
• Contact the ministry team as soon as possible after notification of a funeral.
• Secure two volunteers for funerals over 50 people and one volunteer for funerals under 50 people to serve as greeter(s).
  • The duties of the greeter(s) include passing out programs and assisting people as needed.
• Arrange for shopping for needed items for the funeral meals.
• Maintain an inventory of items for the next funeral team

• Assist in covering the tables and setting up the room as needed.
• Prepare the food/drinks for the meal.
• Assist the families as needed during the meal.
• Serve as a greeter for the funeral Mass as needed.
• Upon completion of the funeral, box up left over prepared food for the bereaved family.
• Assist in cleaning up including:
  • Washing dishes
  • Dispose of table covers
  • Place all the trash in the trash dumpster.
  • Spot clean any spills
  • Put all meal serving items back into storage cabinets.

Procedure:
The pastoral associate or deacon will notify the team leader of an impending funeral and supply the number of people expected for the meal. The team leader will then contact their team, identifying the greeter(s) for the funeral Mass.  The team leader is asked not to contact the family directly for details, but to contact the church with any questions, to avoid confusion. 
The team leader, or designee, will come to the office and pick up the inventory list and debit/credit card. She will then order/purchase items needed for the meal. 
The team leader, or designee, will pick up items the day of the funeral meal.
The team leader, or designee, will arrange for set up and covering of tables for the meal.
The team will gather to prepare the meal, prepare tea, and coffee, and put other items in serving dishes, as well as cut desserts for serving.  The team will receive food that is donated by family and friends of the bereaved, keeping a record for the family. 
Upon completion, the team will box up prepared foods for the family. Refrigerate/freeze/date items as needed. Clean dishes and put away serving dishes in the cabinets. Dispose of table covers and other trash, and take all trash to  the dumpsters.  
Return receipt(s), inventory list,  and debit/credit card to the business office.