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On my own behalf and on behalf of all the parishioners here in Ballyroan Parish, may I offer you my sincere sympathy on the loss of your loved one. I hope that in conjunction with our Funeral Team we will be able to help you navigate the stormy waters of loss and bereavement.

This web site is simply here to help you prepare for the funeral ceremonies. Please feel free to use them as you see fit. As this is and always will be a work in progress, please let us know if you come across something that you have found comforting and helpful and we can include it to perhaps help others.



Fr. Brendan



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.

Fr. Brendan and the Funeral Team and Bethany Group 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.


The following sections are available:-


 

JOURNEY OF LIFE

For each of us life is like a journey.

Birth is the beginning of this journey,

and death is not the end but the destination.

it is a journey that takes us

from youth to age,

from innocence to awareness,

from ignorance to knowledge,

from foolishness to wisdom,

from weakness to strength and often back again,

from offence to forgiveness,

from loneliness to friendship,

from pain to compassion,

from fear to faith,

from defeat to victory and from victory to defeat,

until, looking backward or ahead,

we see that victory does not lie

at some high point along the way,

but in having made the journey,

stage by stage.

Adapted from an old Hebrew prayer