Fathers,
Many of you may now have become aware of the recent statement, from the Archbishops and published on the Bishops’ Conference website last Friday, about Churches being able to open for the Funeral Rite. This comes very soon after the opening of our first churches solely for private prayer. Whilst we welcome this progress we feel it is important that we offer further advice highlighting points within the statement.
Firstly, Bishop John does not wish that any priest feels placed in a difficult situation that might cause tension. Nor does he want clergy to find themselves, or their volunteers, placed into a position where the good will is challenged by excessive numbers seeking admission to churches, especially when emotions may be running high.
Secondly, it is important to highlight that the statement only refers to churches that have been granted permission to open for private prayer. We understand the pressure that this will put on clergy that have yet to be granted this permission, but we are a Diocese that has been leading in making sure that our churches are safe to open with the proper protocols put into place and we don’t intend to take short cuts in getting others ready for opening. There are other related potential problems here. A family living in a parish where the church is open for private prayer can now have a funeral rite in church but a family in the next door parish where the church isn’t yet open are denied this opportunity. With some of the churches that we open for private prayer, the priest might still be shielding or self-isolating, in which case he would not be able to offer the funeral rite, so another priest would need to come in. The whole matter needs to be thought through sensitively.
Thirdly, there have been many reports of crematoria and graveside services being attended by crowds far in excess of the government directives. It is very important that clergy, and parishioners, are not faced with a similar situation of excessive numbers seeking admission to our church buildings. Not only does this create an issue over social distancing, but also the requirement to thoroughly clean the church afterwards.
Please make sure that you read the statement from the Archbishops carefully. It provides guidance on how the funeral rite should be administered, including:
It can only be a non-Eucharistic service, not a Requiem Mass
No symbols, pall or flowers are to be placed on the coffin,
No music, sacristans (vergers) to be present,
Funeral service sheets/programmes needing to be removed
Social distancing to be observed.
Only members of the family may be present, or close friends if family members are unable to attend
Normal cultural methods of greeting, such as handshakes, hugging and kissing are also to be avoided.
Given the range of restrictions outlined above then, other than being physically present in a church, there is little to recommend these services over and above the short graveside or crematorium services we have been restricted to in recent months.
The planning of such occasions is vital. It has also been reported that some funeral directors are not always helpful in this respect, seeking to give families whatever they want rather than helping them to accept what we are able to offer. Clergy must make a decision prior to the day as to whether they feel that the directives can be put into place. It is quite reasonable, at this time, for a priest to decide that it would not be appropriate for a funeral service to be held in the church while the “R” number remains among the highest in this region of the country. It may be best to wait until the directive from the Archbishops that other public services may be held in our churches.
Ricky Davies can offer further guidance on the subject of dealing with excessive numbers wishing to gain access to a church building, but in no way should stewards be put into a situation where they are confronted with such a scenario.
These directives are offered for the protection of you, the priests of the Diocese, and the people who are giving you support so that due reverence can be observed . The Bishop does not want anyone to be compromised on such an important occasion when people are emotive.
John
Mgr John Daly VG
Many of you may now have become aware of the recent statement, from the Archbishops and published on the Bishops’ Conference website last Friday, about Churches being able to open for the Funeral Rite. This comes very soon after the opening of our first churches solely for private prayer. Whilst we welcome this progress we feel it is important that we offer further advice highlighting points within the statement.
Firstly, Bishop John does not wish that any priest feels placed in a difficult situation that might cause tension. Nor does he want clergy to find themselves, or their volunteers, placed into a position where the good will is challenged by excessive numbers seeking admission to churches, especially when emotions may be running high.
Secondly, it is important to highlight that the statement only refers to churches that have been granted permission to open for private prayer. We understand the pressure that this will put on clergy that have yet to be granted this permission, but we are a Diocese that has been leading in making sure that our churches are safe to open with the proper protocols put into place and we don’t intend to take short cuts in getting others ready for opening. There are other related potential problems here. A family living in a parish where the church is open for private prayer can now have a funeral rite in church but a family in the next door parish where the church isn’t yet open are denied this opportunity. With some of the churches that we open for private prayer, the priest might still be shielding or self-isolating, in which case he would not be able to offer the funeral rite, so another priest would need to come in. The whole matter needs to be thought through sensitively.
Thirdly, there have been many reports of crematoria and graveside services being attended by crowds far in excess of the government directives. It is very important that clergy, and parishioners, are not faced with a similar situation of excessive numbers seeking admission to our church buildings. Not only does this create an issue over social distancing, but also the requirement to thoroughly clean the church afterwards.
Please make sure that you read the statement from the Archbishops carefully. It provides guidance on how the funeral rite should be administered, including:
It can only be a non-Eucharistic service, not a Requiem Mass
No symbols, pall or flowers are to be placed on the coffin,
No music, sacristans (vergers) to be present,
Funeral service sheets/programmes needing to be removed
Social distancing to be observed.
Only members of the family may be present, or close friends if family members are unable to attend
Normal cultural methods of greeting, such as handshakes, hugging and kissing are also to be avoided.
Given the range of restrictions outlined above then, other than being physically present in a church, there is little to recommend these services over and above the short graveside or crematorium services we have been restricted to in recent months.
The planning of such occasions is vital. It has also been reported that some funeral directors are not always helpful in this respect, seeking to give families whatever they want rather than helping them to accept what we are able to offer. Clergy must make a decision prior to the day as to whether they feel that the directives can be put into place. It is quite reasonable, at this time, for a priest to decide that it would not be appropriate for a funeral service to be held in the church while the “R” number remains among the highest in this region of the country. It may be best to wait until the directive from the Archbishops that other public services may be held in our churches.
Ricky Davies can offer further guidance on the subject of dealing with excessive numbers wishing to gain access to a church building, but in no way should stewards be put into a situation where they are confronted with such a scenario.
These directives are offered for the protection of you, the priests of the Diocese, and the people who are giving you support so that due reverence can be observed . The Bishop does not want anyone to be compromised on such an important occasion when people are emotive.
John
Mgr John Daly VG
funerals: the liturgy
The general pattern of weekday or Sunday mass is followed for funeral liturgies. Here are some notes that can help in establishing the format of the liturgy which might be helpful when putting together a booklet that relatives and friends may take away with them as a memorial of the day and the person.
There are two common funeral liturgies available:
Requiems are sacred celebrations of a person's life, they are not like 'secular memorial services', where one simply recalls their gifts and talents, alongside memories of their achievements and skills.
Readings and hymns are recommended in the Lectionary and the choice of readings is very broad. Similarly religious songs, music and hymns enhance the liturgy and reflect the spiritual nature of the celebration. Popular music is best suited to secular environments.
The coffin is greeted at the door of the church and blessed with Holy Water, remembering the call to life received in Baptism; much as we do when on entering church it is our Catholic tradition to bless ourselves with Holy Water from the stoop.
There are two common funeral liturgies available:
- The first and most common is the Requiem Mass. This is the first choice especially for those who, in life, been committed members of the Catholic Community. The Family of the Church comes together with the friends and family of the deceased, to share our sorrow and to give thanks for the life of one who has been called to the Lord. Our faith recalls the promise of eternal life shred with all the baptised.
- Less common but becoming more popular is the Requiem Service without Mass. In this case the faithful come together in a very similar service but there is no Eucharistic Celebration as part of the service.
Requiems are sacred celebrations of a person's life, they are not like 'secular memorial services', where one simply recalls their gifts and talents, alongside memories of their achievements and skills.
Readings and hymns are recommended in the Lectionary and the choice of readings is very broad. Similarly religious songs, music and hymns enhance the liturgy and reflect the spiritual nature of the celebration. Popular music is best suited to secular environments.
The coffin is greeted at the door of the church and blessed with Holy Water, remembering the call to life received in Baptism; much as we do when on entering church it is our Catholic tradition to bless ourselves with Holy Water from the stoop.
- An Entrance hymn marks the beginning of the sacred liturgy
- After introductory remarks and opening prayer the first reading is usually from the Old Testament
- A psalm follows, a second (optional) reading follows, usually from the New Testament Letters
- The Gospel introduction is read or sung....(Alleluia verse...)
- The Gospel may be chosen by the Priest who will read it and preach immediately afterwards
- Bidding prayers: a few short prayers are usually read, like the readings leading up to the Gospel, by members of the family or friends of the deceased. These may be composed by the reader or chosen from some recommended in liturgical books
- An offertory hymn follows. And mass continues to Communion. Followed by a Communion Hymn
- After Communion (or following the Bidding Prayers), the Final Commendation and Farewells
- During these prayers, the deceased is again blessed with holy water, (each stage of our journey in this liturgy is accompanied by a remembrance of the invitation to eternal life given at Baptism)
- There is also an anointing with incense. Incense was burned in the presence of God, in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Temple was the house of God on Earth, the place where God chose to be present in his Commandments first given to Moses. In the words of Jesus we find that God now dwells within us individually and as a community. Our bodies are Temples of the Holy Spirit and so we treat them with due respect and dignity
- It is also at this stage in the Liturgy a member of the family may wish to say a few words, as a short eulogy, a brief reflection on the blessings enjoyed during the deceased life amongst us. The eulogy should be a short and prayerful reflection, not summary of a person's life
- As the body leaves Church it is usual to sing a recessional hymn
- A short service at the graveside or at the crematory chapel follows, often accompanied by tributes in song or in words the interment is usually a close family moment of prayer and reflection