The death of someone close to us is a trauma and can seem like the end of the world. Suddenly, the person who is so much part of our lives is gone. We feel devastated and heartbroken. But for us as Catholics we know that death of our loved one is not the the end any more, our destiny is life. We pass from death to eternal life. Death is that moment when Christ who is life finally takes us to himself forever, when we can never be separated from God. “I’m the resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live forever, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” John 11;25-26
Funeral arrangements are to be made with the priest. The usualtimes are: Remains to arrive at the church at 7pm. Funeral Mass at 11am. Should a funeral occur on a Sunday in Athboy, the 11.30am Mass will be the Funeral Mass. In Rathmore and Rathcairn, the Funeral Mass will be at 2pm.
Removal:
The funeral will arrive punctually at the agreed time. A Pall will be placed over the coffin and the procession to the Altar then takes place. The priest will lead the prayers of reception and after the prayers all attending will have an opportunity to sympathise with the bereaved family.
The Funeral Mass:
In offering the Mass,we are praying the greatest of all prayers. In this liturgy,we also commend our loved one to the mercy and love of God. You are encouraged to be involved in the preparation of your loved one’s funeral liturgy as we seek strength in the promise of the Lord that he will not forget his own.
The readings at Mass are always from the Bible which is the Word of God and in the Prayers of the Faithful, we pray for the deceased, the bereaved,and the wider community. Members of the family at the Offertory Procession may bring the bread and wine to the Altar. A memorial table is placed beside the coffin on which are placed mementos of the deceased.The church is the House of God and is a sacred place, celebrating Mass together is a spiritual, holy time and all music must be sacred music, and songs must be hymns. To comply with Meath Diocesan regulations, if a eulogy or words of thanks are to be expressed by a member of the family, it may be done at the graveside after the prayers but not in the Church.
Before the Mass, the undertaker will have removed the wreaths from the Church so that you may follow the coffin without having the burden of carrying them in your grief.