At 10.00am today the Funeral Mass for the late Morgan Barnard RIP will take place in Saint Patrick’s Church, Dungannon. Father Aidan McCann, curate of Dungannon, will be chief celebrant of the Mass which will be attended by Morgan’s family, friends and the local parish community. After Mass, Morgan’s remains will be interred in Carland Road cemetery. Attendance inside the church is reserved for family, loved ones and parishioners only. Out of respect for the solemnity of the Mass, and to provide privacy and space to the family, media are asked not to use camera equipment within the church. Please see below information for media on the funeral liturgy for Morgan Barnard RIP:
Entrance hymn
The Cloud’s Veil
Remarks of Archbishop Eamon Martin as the remains of Morgan arrive at the church
Saint Patrick was only sixteen years old when he was cruelly wrenched away from his family, friends and loved ones by kidnappers who sold him into slavery in Ireland. He wrote about that lonely time, and about the terrible loss and fear his family suffered, not knowing where he was and probably asking themselves endless questions: Where is he now? Why did this happen? How will we cope? What if…?
Since the terribly tragic events in Cookstown on Saint Patrick’s night we’ve all been asking those kinds of questions – and none more so than the families of Lauren, Connor and Morgan. Words fail us at times like this. All that really matters, and makes a difference, is love and friendship and compassion. And only faith can dare to speak into the darkness of these days to offer a glimmer of light and hope in this valley of tears.
The young teenager, Saint Patrick, in the depth of his pain and isolation, wrapped himself around with prayer: “Christ on my right, Christ on my left”, he prayed. “Christ in mouth of friend and stranger”.
Here in Co Tyrone this week – as families, parishes, schools and communities – we’ve been circling each other around with love and faith and kindness and compassion. The shocking events of Sunday last have reminded us that life is very fragile; we need to cherish every moment and always look out for each other, and keep each other safe.
Thank you all for being here today to offer your prayerful presence and support. In the days ahead, we will cherish the memories of these precious and gifted young people whose lives have been so suddenly wrenched from among us; we will continue to hold their families, and each other, close in love and faith, praying as the young Saint Patrick did, “Christ behind me, Christ before me. Christ to comfort and restore me”.
Saint Paul says: “Take comfort in knowing that everyone who died in Christ shall rise to new life and be with him forever”.
God rest Morgan and Lauren and Connor and surround you, their loved ones with a blanket of love and faith, until one day, in the joy of heaven, we will see their smiling faces again. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.
Introduction by Father McCann
You are all very welcome on this most sad and tragic of occasions. On the painful and untimely passing of young Morgan Barnard. These have been difficult days for us all in the area and the days ahead will be no less difficult. We are here together to pray and offer solidarity to one another; to remember Morgan and to pray for him. We remember also at this Mass Conor Currie another Academy student from Edendork, and also Lauren Bullock, student of Saint Patrick’s College from Donaghmore, who all lost their lives so tragically in Cookstown on Sunday night. We pray and offer condolences for the many who mourn their heart-breaking passing, but most especially at this Mass for the family of Morgan. And so, as we begin this Requiem Mass remembering Morgan, I invite Ellis, Tracy & Dean to come forward with some mementos of Morgan’s life.
First Reading read by Jake
A reading from the book of the Apocalypse [14:13]
I, John, heard a voice from heaven say to me, ‘Write down: Happy are those who die in the Lord! Happy indeed, the Spirit says; now they can rest forever after their work, since their good deeds go with them’.
The word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm
Mo Ghrá Thú
Second Reading read by Emma
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians [3:20-21]
For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the saviour we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. He will do that by the same power with which he can subdue the whole universe.
The word of the Lord.
Homily preached by Father McCann
In these days of tragedy and deep sorrow. I’ve had the opportunity to speak to many people about Morgan and they all agree on what they say about him. To say that Morgan was well liked would be an understatement. He was a vivacious, charismatic and energetic young man who nobody had a bad word to say about. Morgan was a person of character who had a great sense of humour with an abundance of wit; always a smile on his face. You could never pass him on the corridor in school and no doubt anywhere else without getting a warm look or a quick joke as he passed. Morgan had a strong personality and didn’t care too much about the opinion of others revealed in his various hair styles or indeed lack of hair, hair colours and his flamboyant choice of shirts. He was constantly breaking his glasses and his mother was constantly having to buy him new school shoes as he wore them out playing football. He was also a humble young man who would always listen and be there for somebody if they needed him.
Morgan had a real passion for the Irish language; and was very well known and loved in the Gaeltacht. Spoken very highly off from everybody he encountered in Loch an Iúir from the bean an Tí to his fellow students from all parts of Ireland. However, not even his love for Irish was exempt from his wit and humour. If I may I will share a funny story which I think exemplifies very well Morgan’s witty side. On one occasion in the corridor in the Academy, he was speaking to a friend who had barely no Irish when one of the Irish teachers stopped to say a few words with Morgan in Irish, when the teacher had walked on, he turned to his friend and comically said ‘Do you know what she just said? She just called you fat.’ To the stunned amazement of his friend. But such was Morgan. He loved the Academy, his friends and teachers there; and the Academy loved him too – and so it is fitting and very moving that he is buried wearing the Academy Crest on his heart.
In the face of this great suffering and sorrow that is felt by us all at this difficult time many people can find it hard to believe and it can put their faith to the test. Why does God allow this? We must remember that God is not far removed from us in our sufferings and sorrows. In Jesus, God himself has suffered and was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief as the Book of Isaiah tells us. God understands our sorrows and he himself wept over them when he cried at the death of his friend Lazarus. The shortest line in the entire Holy Bible is ‘Jesus wept’. Jesus himself felt the sharp pain too of feeling abandoned by God when from the Cross he said ‘My God, My God why have you forsaken me?’ God the Father never abandoned Jesus not for one second and so Jesus said ‘Into your hands O Lord I commend my Spirit.’
Also, during these hard days we remember and ask the intercession in a special way of Mary, the holy Mother of God, the Mother of Sorrows who met her Son along the road to Calvary and stood at the foot of the Cross as her Son was dying. Better than anyone Our Lady understands the great sufferings of us all. Especially Morgan’s loving parents Maria and James at this difficult time. I know Jimmy when you were growing up when the Angelus bell rang at 6.00pm, everybody gathered in the living room to pray the Rosary – and that you still today pray a daily decade of the Rosary to our Lady. Keep doing that and I encourage all of you to do that too, for our Lady who is the Mother of Sorrows is also the Mother of Divine Consolation, the Comforter of the afflicted and the Queen of Peace.
We the priests of the parish extend our prayers, care and deepest sympathies to you, Maria and Jimmy, at this terrible time as well as to Morgan’s siblings Calvin, Robyn, Regan and Elyssa. And of course, with a new baby expected this year; who will know his or her brother by the stories of love they will hear about him.
On this most difficult of all days, may Morgan, Conor and Lauren all rest on peace. Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord…
Prayer of the Faithful read by Lorcan, Joshua and Elliot
1. Paidir do dhaoine óga (Prayer for Young People)
A Thiarna, bíonn tú liom i gcónaí. Nuair a bhíonn brón orm cuidíonn tú liom. Nuair a bhíonn áthas orm ceiliúrann tú liom. Cuidíonn tú liom a bheith cróga agus ní ligeann tú síos mé ariamh. Taispeánann tú an tslí cheart dom. Siúlfaidhh mé i dtreo do sholais i gcónaí.
Lord, you are always with me. When I am sad you help me. When I am happy, you rejoice with me. You help me to be brave and you never let me down. You show me the right way. I will always walk towards the light.
Lord hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
2. For the family, relatives and friends of Morgan. That they may find comfort in their faith in God, and strength through the support of the community.
Lord hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
3. For all here, that we may grow in faith so that we can stand firm even when hardship, misfortune or even tragedy visits us.
Lord Hear Us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Offertory Procession of the Bread and Wine
Presentation of the gifts by Rebecca and Nadine who will bring the bread and wine to the altar which will become the Body and Blood of Christ.
Communion Hymn
In The Quiet
Post-Communion Reflection read by Sheila
Recessional
Irish Blessing
ENDS
- This Funeral Mass will be livestreamed on parishofdungannon.com
For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 310 4444.
