Bereavement

Word of God

When someone we love dies, we often find that words are inadequate.

We struggle to express our grief and our sense of helplessness in the face of the mystery of death.

We can allow the Word of God to speak to us at this time. In our funeral liturgies, texts of readings, prayers and hymns comfort us with the reminder that God is with us at every stage in our journey of life and especially in death, when ‘life is changed, not ended’ (Preface of Christian Death I).

The parish communities of St. Mary’s & Holy Family wish to express its deep sympathy with you at this time. You will be in our thoughts and prayers over the coming days and weeks.

The Funeral Liturgies

The funeral liturgies can be a very helpful step in the grieving process. There are usually three:

The Rite of Reception (the Removal)
The Funeral Mass
The Rite of Committal (at the cemetery or crematorium)

Family members and friends may wish to take part in the preparation and planning of these liturgies. This booklet is designed to invite you fully into this process.

The Rite of Reception is a short, simple ceremony. There is one reading from Scripture and a psalm. The priest will then read a Gospel of his choosing and will lead the community in prayer before people approach the family with their sympathies.

The Funeral Mass takes place the following day. The Liturgy of the Word is as follows:

The First Reading, which is from the Old Testament, is read.
The Responsorial Psalm is sung – if this is not possible, it may be read.
The Second Reading, which is from the New Testament, is read.
After the Gospel and homily (which the priest will prepare) there are Prayers of the Faithful.

Eulogies and Personal Tributes

In accordance with the funeral guidelines of the Diocese of Meath, eulogies, personal tributes and speeches are not permitted in the church during funeral liturgies. This applies to both the Rite of Reception and the Funeral Mass.

Those wishing to share personal memories or words of appreciation are welcome to do so after the Rite of Committal at the cemetery or crematorium, or at a family gathering following the funeral.

The Funeral Mass is first and foremost a celebration of our Christian faith, a time to pray for the deceased, offer comfort to those who mourn and place our trust in God’s promise of eternal life.

Family members and friends are encouraged to participate in the funeral liturgy through the Scripture readings, Prayers of the Faithful and presentation of the Offertory Gifts, in consultation with the priest.

We thank families for their understanding and cooperation in respecting these diocesan guidelines and preserving the prayerful and sacred nature of the funeral liturgy.