Funeral arrangements are usually made by contacting the Parish Office and Parish Priest.
Please call Madeline Dimasi on (03) 9068 8600 or Contact the Parish Office for more information.
Funerals are celebrated only according to the rites of the Catholic Church.
Funerals can be celebrated in either of our two Churches: St Peter's Toorak and Our Lady of Lourdes Armadale.
A list of frequently asked questions has been compiled for families wishing to organise a Funeral in our Partnered Parishes.
Who can celebrate a Funeral for us?
Any Catholic Priest or Deacon who enjoys the faculties of the Archdiocese may celebrate.
If you wish to have a different Celebrant, other than the Parish Priest Fr Dean Mathieson, please include his name and contact details in the Enquiry Form below.
Flowers
Flowers must be arranged by the Church Florist, Leigh Clark from Florian Florist. Leigh is contactable on 9827 2025 or 0412 147 237 or email lThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Leigh is obliged to ensure that the placement of flowers and choice of colours is in accordance with the needs of the Liturgy. You also agree that you will not interfere with any of the art and environment that may be in the Church during the various liturgical celebrations of the year. Leigh's fee and payment are to be discussed directly with him.
For information about the flower arrangements already in the Church, please contact Madeline Dimasi, aThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Music
All matters regarding music must be discussed and approved by our Director of Music/Organist is Conrad Helfrich. Conrad is contactable on 0418 392 997 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Conrad will help you with the choice of music. Conrad’s fee and payment are to be discussed directly with him.
Secular songs, pre-recorded music, portable keyboards or acoustic guitars are not permitted in our churches. The Church is equipped with one of the finest organs in Melbourne.
(Click here to read about our historical organ)
Booking Time
St Peter's Toorak and Our Lady of Lourdes Armadale are available for funerals on most days during the year.
Please note:
- Funerals are not celebrated on Sundays, Holy Days of Obligation: Christmas (24 & 25 December) and the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Vrgin Mary (15 August), Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday.
- Funerals can be organised for times after Parish Masses during the week.
Requiem Mass or Service
A Requiem Mass or Service is the official liturgy of the Church and must be in accord with The Order of Christian Funerals approved for use in Australia (1985). Therefore, readings must be scriptural. It is normally expected that the family of the deceased will print an order of service booklet to encourage mourners to participate in the service.
Your celebrant will assist you in choosing the right liturgy.
If Fr Dean is your celebrant, he will assist you with a funeral booklet template at your first meeting. Otherwise, this can be done through the funeral director of your choice.
Booking
A donation of $300 for the Church goes towards the restoration, maintenance of the church building, the use of the Church and church grounds for 1.5 hours.
- A separate offering of $300 is payable to Fr Dean if he is your celebrant.
- Flowers and the Organist are a separate cost, as detailed in the “Flowers” and “Music” section.
- St Peter's Church can accommodate 220 people, comfortably seated in the Nave of the Church.
- Our Lady of Lourdes Church can accommodate 260 people, comfortably seated in the Nave of the Church. However, there is no accessible facilities at this Church.
How do we prepare the funeral booklet (Order of Service)?
The celebrant will assist you in preparing the liturgy and will be able to provide you with books for guidance. A draft of the booklet (Order of Service) will need to be submitted to the Parish Office for approval prior to printing. Printing of the booklet is the family's responsibility.
Our Copyright licence must be quoted together with acknowledgement for all hymns used in the booklet. Please contact Madeline Dimasi, 03 9068 8600 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Information for your Photographer / Videographer
If you are hiring a professional video camera operator to live-stream the liturgy, please advise the celebrant prior to the day.
Please note that artificial lighting/flash photography/flood lighting is not permitted, and they should not enter the Sanctuary during the Liturgy.
Parking
There is no parking on the grounds of St Peter's, Toorak. St Peter's forecourt is to be used ONLY by the Funeral vehicles only. Parking is also available on Toorak Road and surrounding streets, but please take note of signed traffic restrictions.
Parking at Our Lady of Lourdes Armadale is limited. Onsite parking at the front is ONLY available to Funeral vehicles only. Street parking is available but please take note of signed traffic restrictions.
Memorial Garden
This garden was established in 2006 for the interment of ashes of deceased Parishioners of the Parish of St Peter's Toorak and Our Lady of Lourdes, Armadale.
The garden is situated in the grassed area in front of the statue of Saint Peter at the front of the Church and surrounded by borders of shrubs on the western, southern (street) and eastern sides. The marble plinth is incised "St Peter’s Memorial Garden".
The Memorial Book in the church records the names and dates of death of those interred in the garden and Mass is celebrated for them each year during the month of November.
If you are a Parishioner, and wish to avail yourself of a plot in the Memorial Garden, you are asked to contact Madeline Dimasi on (03) 9068 8600 or Contact the Parish Office for more information.