Funerals

On behalf of the parish can we express our sympathy to you who mourn the death of your loved one.

To assist the bereaved and the Parish Funeral Team to plan the funeral rites and your participation in it, the Diocese of Cork and Ross has prepared and issued a resource booklet, “Parish Resources for Funerals”. The booklet will be provided to the bereaved by the Parish Office in North Street or by your funeral director. The booklet includes the texts of scripture readings, sample prayers, as well as the texts of other essential parts of the funeral rites. It also includes a check list which can be filled in when the funeral plans are complete and given to the priest celebrant of the Funeral Mass. It can also be downloaded here – check list.

 

Christian Mass and Funerals

When we meet to prepare for your loved one’s funeral we will be happy to discuss with you any of the details of the funeral prayers and the Requiem Mass. 

To help you prepare what follows is an order of Service / Mass 

  • Entrance Procession and Hymn
  • Opening Words of Welcome from the Celebrant, followed by a family eulogy (if they wish) and/or bringing of personal symbols to the altar with family a member explaining significance (if they wish)
  • First Reading – you can choose from the resources in this section
  • Psalm (Usually sung)
  • Second Reading. again you can choose from the resources in this section
  • Alleluia Verse (Usually sung)
  • Gospel – Normally the gospel is chosen to compliment the readings and music you have chosen
  • Prayers of the Faithful (immediately after the homily) These should be adapted to the circumstances of the deceased and made personal. One, two or more readers may read the prayers. Samples of these are in the booklet.
  • Offertory Procession (Two or more persons may take the gifts of bread and wine)
  • Communion Reflection (any suitable prayer, poem or prose which is fitting, or which the deceased used as meditation during life, may be recited immediately after Communion.) 

 

To those who are bereaved 

Death is always a sad occurrence.  To lose a spouse, parent, family member or close friend is surely one of the most painful experiences we must endure in life.  While nothing at this time can remove the pain of loss, the Funeral Mass has a clear message of hope.  The Readings, Psalms and Communion Reflections that follow all convey compassion and hope. 

The presence of people at a time of family bereavement may also be a wonderful source of strength.  It is the local community speaking not in words but by their very presence. 

The Priests of the Parish are most anxious to be a source of support and strength at this time and will be here to help in the months and years ahead.  People often suffer in isolation.  The bereavement process for some is very prolonged, but for all it is intense.  Our prayers are never unmindful of your grief.  We would feel privileged to be of help in any way and at any time during your time of grief. 

For the Funeral, there are a number of ceremonies to help the bereaved gradually console in a gentle and spiritual way. 

At a time, which is generally sad and emotional for the family and friends of the deceased, we are ready and anxious to assist in any way possible. Arrangements for Church Liturgies are made with the priests of the Parish. 

The Rite of Christian burial normally consists of
(1) Reception of Remains in Church,
(2) Funeral Liturgy in Mass or Funeral Liturgy without Mass,
(3) Final commendation and burial. 

 

Some General Points 

The following points may help summarise what is needed: 

… This first thing is not to worry about the arrangements. All the material above may seem rather detailed, but in practice the priest, the Parish Funeral Team and undertaker will guide you through it. Don’t feel you have to do everything. The Parish Funeral Team are there to look after you. 

… After a death has occurred people sometimes feel under pressure to have the Mass and burial as soon as possible. If possible, avoid the temptation to rush things. 

… You may wish to involve family members or other chief mourners in the celebrations in a special way. Give them some of the simpler tasks: placing symbols on the Table of Life, bringing up the gifts at Mass. You can also involve a lot of people in a more informal way by gathering for prayer (Vigil for the Deceased) and reflection at the funeral home or at home. This is an ideal time for favourite songs, prayers, poems and stories.

… The reading of any texts in the church itself is more demanding and is best given to someone who will not be too distraught, preferably an experienced church reader. 

… Music can add greatly to the meaningful celebration of a funeral. In the church itself, use only religious music that has been written for the liturgy. We will be able to contact those who have the ministry of music in the parish. Suggested hymns are available in Parish Resources for Funerals booklet.

… You might find it helpful to have other significant moments in the weeks and months ahead when you remember your loved one in a special way: a month’s mind Mass, visits to the cemetery, the annual parish Mass for the dead in November, putting up a headstone, and the first anniversary. These could be moments when you gather with just a few people to pray and to remember. 

 

WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE HAS DIED: PREPARING FOR A FUNERAL 

The trauma of losing someone close is very deep and leaves us disorientated. Depending on the circumstances, the death of a loved one can leave us feeling numb, shocked, exhausted, angry, relieved, depressed, or a combination of any of these. Trying to organise a funeral in the middle of all this is not easy. Thankfully there are people around to help: your local priest, your local undertaker, friends and neighbours. The Priests, Funeral ministry teams and undertakers have long experience of helping people when a death occurs and will give you the advice and support that you need. 

What follows is intended as a brief guide to help you choose what is best for the funeral of a loved one. First, there is a brief description of the principal rites at the time of a funeral, and then some general advice about planning. 

Remembering the Dead: the Wake or Vigil 

Funerals are a time for remembering. We can feel an urge to tell the story of the one who has passed away. Stories about the good times and the bad surface and want to be told. We reminisce. This is something natural and healthy and deserves a bit of time and space. The Irish tradition of the wake has allowed for this, but this custom hasn’t survived everywhere. 

A rite called the ‘Vigil for the Deceased’ has been put together for use in Ireland. It is not well known but it offers an opportunity for family and friends to gather for prayer in the presence of the body of the person who has died. This could take place at home, in a funeral parlour or in the hospital or nursing home mortuary chapel. It includes readings and prayers that evoke our hope in the resurrection as well as giving voice to the pain of what has happened. It is a moment of entrusting ourselves and our loved one who has died to the care of Christ himself. Sometimes, if people wish, it could include the rosary or a portion of it. All the prayers can be led by a layperson or a priest. At the end of the prayers, people might want to voice some personal remembrances of the person who has died, perhaps to read a poem or any other text that was dear to the deceased, tell some stories, or to hear some favourite music. This kind of remembrance takes place more easily and naturally at a small gathering such as this than at the funeral Mass, which tends to be more public and formal. 

Unlike in the past, the ‘Vigil for the Deceased’ prayers, either at the Family Home or Funeral Home, will not now be followed by removal to the church. Removal to the church will take place just prior to the Requiem Mass.

The Reception of the Remains 

An important moment in the Funeral celebration is when the body of the person who has died is received or welcomed back into their parish church where they worshiped with the rest of the Christian community. It is a kind of homecoming. Relatives, friends, and other members of the community gather either inside or outside the church. When the chief mourners arrive with the coffin at the door of the church, they are greeted by the priest or lay minister who conducts the service. The coffin is sprinkled with holy water as a reminder of Baptism: the person who has died was already united at Baptism with the death of Christ in order that he or she would rise again to new life.

As the coffin will arrive in the church immediately prior to the Requiem Mass, there will no opportunity to sympathise with the family in the church.

The Pall 

If the deceased was a member of a particular association or group, the coffin may have had a flag or other insignia on it when it was being brought to the church; these are normally now removed – we are all one in Baptism and thus no individual is singled out by special insignia on the coffin once it is inside the church. There are however special signs of honour associated with being a Christian that you may wish to be placed on the coffin. The first of these is the pall. This is a large white cloth that is draped over the coffin. It recalls the white garment (sometimes called the Christening shawl) worn by each newly baptised person as a sign of their Christian dignity. It can be placed on the coffin by family, friends, or another member of the community.  

Christian Symbols 

The coffin is then led in procession to the sanctuary of the church. When everyone has taken their place you may wish to have the Christian life of your loved one further honoured by having Christian symbols placed on the coffin. Examples of these would be a cross, a Bible, rosary beads or a prayer book. This introductory part of the service concludes with a short prayer. At this point the family are given the opportunity to give a family eulogy and/or bring personal symbols from the life of the deceased. All then sit for the Liturgy of the Word. 

The Liturgy of the Word 

The Liturgy of the Word is the central part of this service and is composed mainly of readings from the Bible. Although the books of the Bible are many centuries old and not always easy to understand, we believe that they are inspired by God and that God can really speak to us through these ancient texts. Above all, these writings help us to know Christ himself, who passed through death into new life. At a critical moment like this, when all our certainties seem to fall away, we can derive great inner strength when we hear the story and message of Jesus himself, who triumphed over death. If you wish, the priest (or the Funeral Team member) will help you choose readings that seem particularly suitable to your situation. 

Who Should Read the Readings? 

If you really want people to hear the message of the readings which you have chosen, you need to have someone who is experienced at reading in public. Inexperienced readers sometimes think they can be clearly heard and understood. It is best to pick someone who already reads at Mass, a friend, or a relative. One piece of advice: a person who was very close to the one who has died may be put under quite a strain, trying to read in public, they may, however, have a strong need and desire to participate and we are there to support, help and advise.  

After the readings are concluded and the priest explains them briefly, everybody stands to pray together for the person who has died and for those who mourn and are in pain. 

Extending Sympathies to the Mourners 

The remains of your loved one will be received into the church at the beginning of (or shortly before) Mass, rather than being in the church overnight. There will no opportunity to sympathise with the family in the church.