Holy   Departure   Prayer  Ministry

                 "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live." (John 11:25)
Vision: To be a prayerful community dedicated to accompanying the dying with intercessory prayer, invoking God’s mercy and peace for souls in their final journey.
Mission:
  1. To intercede for the dying—praying for their repentance, peace, and a holy death.
  2. To encourage a culture of prayer—helping parishioners grow in the habit of praying for those at the moment of death.
  3. To provide spiritual support—offering consolation to families and spiritual assistance to the dying.
  4. To form and educate—helping members understand the power of prayer and the Church’s teachings on death and the afterlife.
Guidelines for Members Spiritual Dispositions
  • Members should live a life of personal prayer and participate in the sacraments regularly (especially Confession and Eucharist).
  • Commit to praying daily for the dying, even if not physically present with them.
  • Cultivate a spirit of humility, charity, and faith in God’s mercy.
  • Respect the sacredness of death and the dignity of every dying person.
What to Do
  • Pray with faith and confidence—invoke God's mercy, offer comfort, and commend the soul to God.
  • Use Scripture and traditional prayers—including the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Litany for the Dying, and the Commendation of the Dying.
  • Remain peaceful and reverent—prayer should be a source of strength, not fear or distress.
  • Encourage the sacraments—if possible, ensure the dying receive the Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum (Holy Communion for the journey).
  • Support the family—listen with compassion, offer gentle spiritual encouragement, and remind them of Christ’s promise of eternal life.
What Not to Do
  • Do not impose or force prayer—be respectful of the family’s and the dying person’s faith journey.
  • Do not despair—no matter the circumstances, trust in God’s mercy and the power of prayer.
  • Do not treat prayer as a ritualistic duty—it is an act of love, not just an obligation.
  • Do not speculate on the state of the dying person’s soul—only God knows their heart; our role is to pray.
How to Pray for the Dying Traditional Prayers for the Dying
  1. The Divine Mercy Chaplet (Especially powerful at the hour of death) : “At the hour of death, I defend as My own glory every soul that will say this chaplet; or when others say it for a dying person, the indulgence is the same.” (Jesus to St. Faustina, Diary 811)
  2. The Litany for the Dying: A beautiful intercession calling on Jesus, Mary, and the saints to pray for the dying soul.
  3. The Commendation of the Dying (CCC 1523, 1525): “Go forth, Christian soul, from this world in the name of God the almighty Father, who created you, in the name of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who suffered for you, in the name of the Holy Spirit, who was poured out upon you. May you live in peace this day, may your home be with God in Zion.”
  4. Psalm 23 – “The Lord is my Shepherd…”: A comforting psalm to pray aloud for the dying person.
  5. The Hail Mary (particularly emphasizing "pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.")
  6. Final Act of Trust:: “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.”
Offering Masses for the Dying Encourage families to request a Holy Mass for their loved one before they pass if possible. The Eucharist is the greatest act of intercession.
Speaking to Families Who Have Invited the Prayer GroupBefore Arriving
  • Confirm their expectations—ask how they would like you to pray and whether the dying person is comfortable with prayer.
  • Encourage the presence of a priest—if the sacraments have not yet been received, offer to contact a priest.
During the Visit
  • Be a presence of peace—your demeanor should be calm, prayerful, and compassionate.
  • Use simple words of comfort:
    • “God is near to your loved one and loves them deeply.”
    • “Jesus promised, ‘I go to prepare a place for you.’” (John 14:2)
    • “Blessed are those who die in the Lord.” (Revelation 14:13)
  • Offer gentle encouragement to entrust their loved one to God:
    • If the family struggles to let go, remind them of the beauty of surrendering their loved one into God’s hands.
    • Encourage them to say: “Jesus, we trust in You.”
After the Death
  • Pray for the soul’s repose and encourage the family to do so as well.
  • Accompany the family in grief—offer continued support, including prayers for the deceased at Mass.
  • Share the Church’s teaching on the Communion of Saints—death is not the end, and we remain spiritually united with our loved ones.
Final Words from the Saints and the Catechism
  • St. Alphonsus Liguori: "The most important moment in life is the moment of death. That is why the devil spares no effort in trying to cause the soul’s damnation at that moment. But prayer can change everything."
  • Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1014):
    “The Church encourages us to prepare ourselves for the hour of our death. In the litany of the saints, for instance, she has us pray: ‘From a sudden and unforeseen death, deliver us, O Lord’; to ask the Mother of God to intercede for us ‘at the hour of our death’ in the Hail Mary; and to entrust ourselves to St. Joseph, the patron of a happy death.”
  • St. Joseph, Patron of a Happy Death: “We should consider ourselves always as if we were at the point of death.”

Prayers

5 Powerful Prayers for the Poor Souls in Purgatory Every Catholic Should Know
Prayers for Every Day of the Week in Aid of the Poor Souls in Purgatory​
How to gain Plenary Indulgences for the Holy Souls in Purgatory​?
Prayer to Jesus Christ for the Holy Souls : St. Alphonsus Liguori​
Litanies for the Holy Souls in Purgatory​
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