Diocese issues new restrictions on funerals
Priests are no longer required to lead prayers in the home of a deceased person, according to a new Diocesan circular detailing further restrictions around the taking place of local funerals.
“Very few” baptisms or weddings are taking place at the present time, the Diocesan office informed The Anglo-Celt, stating that if they do “go ahead”, there must be the “minimum” number of people present with national guidelines, and no subsequent social gatherings.
Funerals meanwhile will continue out of necessity.
However, there will be no wakes in the house of the deceased person of their family members.
With priests not being required to lead prayers in the home of the deceased, instead the family is asked to pray the Rosary, and can be given “other prayers” to say in the home.
There will be no sympathising or physical contact with the bereaved at any stage, and no Removal to the Church on the evening before the burial.
“All funerals will be private, with just the immediate family being present and no more than twenty people, well-spaced apart, in the church for the funeral Mass. Families may decide not publicise the time of the funeral Mass to ensure that restrictions are adhered to.”
Furthermore, the funeral Mass will be “simple”, with none of the normal participation of the laity in the liturgy. If Holy Communion is distributed at the Funeral Mass it must be done in a “safe manner”.
At the grave-side social distancing must be adhered to.
Arrangements can meanwhile be made to have the equivalent of a Month’s Memory Mass for the deceased person to take place when restrictions are lifted, so that the family and community can then gather to pray for the deceased and pay their respects to them.
“These regulations mean that the grieving family do not have the normal comfort and support of friends and neighbours to carry them through the difficult days of the death and burial of a loved ones. Because of this our priestly pastoral role takes on a new significance and we must be extra sensitive in the way we relate to the bereaved family.”