Information for media on the Funeral Liturgy for Ms Kiea McCann RIP

The word of the Lord.
 
Psalm The Lord Will Heal the Broken Heart.
 
Second Reading – 1 Peter 1: 3 – 9 proclaimed by Teresa, sister of Kiea’s Dad, Franky.

Blessed be the God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth by raising up Jesus Christ from the dead, so that we have a sure hope and the promise of an inheritance that can never be spoilt and never fade away, because it is being kept for you in the heavens. Through your faith, God’s power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared for you has been revealed at the end of time. This is a cause of great joy for you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold – only it is more precious than gold, which is corruptible even though it bears testing by fire – and then you will have praise and glory and honour. You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls.

The word of the Lord.
 
Alleluia: Sung
 
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke 22: 39 – 44
Jesus left to make his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, with the disciples following. When they reached the place he said to them, “Pray not to be put to the test.”

Then he withdrew from them, about a stone’s throw away, and knelt down and prayed. “Father,” he said “if you are willing, take this cup away from me.  Nevertheless, let your will be done, not mine.”  Then an angel appeared to him, coming down from heaven to give him strength.  In his anguish he prayed even more earnestly, and his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.
 
The Gospel of the Lord.
 
Homily preached by Father John Chester PP
Local community and religious leaders were tasked on radio and television to find words to describe the community’s reaction to the tragedy that occurred on Monday evening.
 
Councillor Pat Treanor spoke of the “absolute horror unfolding” from Monday night’s accident.  Councillor David Maxwell stated how difficult it was to put into the words the tragedy that has hit the country.  TD for Cavan / Monaghan, Minister Heather Humphreys, called the events “every parent’s worst nightmare.”  Father Peter Corrigan of the Parish of Currin, Killeevan and Aghabog, was also called upon on RTÉ News to describe the communal sadness.  Principal Sharon Magennis of Largy College, Clones, referred to the profound sadness and grief resulting from the tragic loss of two cherished members of Largy School community.
 
Sitting yesterday with Kiea’s dad Franky, at the McCann home, listening to him describe his frantic actions following his arrival at the scene of the crash, he described conducting CPR on his daughter and her soul friend Dlava, but with no success, the hands of the two girls touching as though they knew they were off to heaven together.  No father should have to witness such a terrible scene.
 
The opening lines from the poem Dirge, by Edna St. Vincent Millay, connects us with the pain of the family and of the locality:
I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the hard ground. …………
Crowned
With lilies and with laurel they go; but I am not resigned…….
But I do not approve. And I am not resigned.
 
The Church’s Mission is to announce the Good News of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, to promote a call to service, herald the eternal truths, a God of tenderness and compassion who is slow to anger, rich in kindness and faithfulness, and life beyond the grave.
 
God is in Clones and God was at the Mount of Olives the night before the death of His Son Jesus, He sent His angel to comfort Jesus and give Him strength.  No doubt God He will send His angel to comfort Kiea’s family.
 
Kiea was born on 17 April 2006 and lived to the age of ten at Kilmainham Wood, County Meath.  At the age of ten Kiea and the family moved to Clones where she attended Saint Tiernach’s National School and from there to Largy College.  Kiea was looking forward to taking up training in Child Care at Cavan’s Institute of Further Education and Training.  A member of staff at Largy said about Kiea:
She was such a pleasant, kind, and warm-hearted girl, who demonstrated a willingness to help and support others, and was never afraid to give up her time to help others, which made her a very popular classmate!
 
Kiea was a hardworking student and always worked to the best of her ability.  She had a caring nature and was looking forward to continuing her studies in Childcare at Cavan Institute, having completed her work experience in a local creche.
 
Friends at the McCann home yesterday stated how popular Kiea was among her friends.  She had a great sense of humour, pleasantly mischievous and innocent.  She, like her peers, was rarely off the iPhone keeping in touch.  She kicked football with her close circle of friends, played pool, enjoyed music and the weekend discos.  Kiea was kind, whole-hearted, genuine.  She respected others irrespective of race and creed. 
 
Caolán Faux of the local Youth Work Services described Clones as a deeply united community, as demonstrated on Tuesday night by the people who lined the town’s streets as the hearse mournfully made its way to No 3 Fitzpatrick’s Square.  This was demonstrated again yesterday evening when Dlava’s hearse arrived to her home at the Diamond, Clones.  Keia and Dlava would be most proud.
 
As we know family was hugely important to Kiea, she was a very family oriented girl who was everybody’s favourite, and our hearts are broken, not only for Kiea and Dlava, but for all of those left behind after this terrible tragedy.
 
Dlava was a student who always had a warm smile, and a gentle hello, when she met you on the school corridor.  Her determination shone through in everything she did.  Dlava was hard working and resilient.  She had settled into the Clones area and the Largy College community, and was an integral part of the third year group.  Dlava was a very moral young girl who had a strong sense of right and wrong and the courage of her convictions to express these.  She was a gorgeous soul who radiated goodness.  Dlava expressed such love and devotion to her beloved family.  Dlava showed great loyalty to, and compassion for, her circle of friends and was someone they could rely on as true confident.  She would have been going into fourth year in September and was looking forward with excitement to all that was involved in this.
 
The college community is heartbroken.  It is a tragedy that, along with their families, the management, staff and fellow students will not get to see these amazing young women express the full potential of their kind spirits and abundance of gifts.  
 
The Scriptures give us some beautiful images of heaven.  For example, the Prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament conveys the lovely image of the banquet of rich food that the Lord has prepared for us.  Jesus follows this up by describing heaven as a mansion of many rooms: “there are many rooms in my Father’s house. If there were not, I should have told you”. 
 
Others considered heaven to be a garden – paradise and an indescribable union with God.  Father Enda Lyons recommends Saint Augustine whose opinion is that “God is not a place but a person. Heaven is the eternal movement of love between Jesus and the Father, heaven is a relationship of an eternal flow of love.”  Kiea and Dlava are within the eternal flow of love.
 
The readings from the Book of Exodus at yesterday’s weekday Mass described Moses coming down from Mount Sinai.  He had been alone in the presence of God on the mountain and on reaching the bottom of the mountain his face radiant was from the radiance of God.  We can picture the radiance of God on the face Kiea, like Moses glowing in the presence of God.   
 
The white coffin containing the mortal remains of Kiea McCann speaks to us of youth and innocence.  It also a reminder of the Sacrament of Baptism when the baptised person is clothed in white.  The celebrant prays, “See in this white garment the outward sign of your Christian dignity.  With family and friends to help you by word an example, bring that dignity unstained into the everlasting life of heaven.”  We pray that Kiea has entered the everlasting life of heaven.

I find comfort in a verse from the novel Rusholme Road by Lori Lansens:
Shed not for me your bitter tears,
Nor give your soul to vein regret.
Tis but a casket lying here,
The gem that fled it glitters yet.
 
Prayer of the Faithful
Gaby                Let us pray in thanksgiving for the life of Kiea, for all the love she gave and for all the many ways through which she touched the lives of others.  May Kiea be found worthy of the gift of eternal life.  Lord, hear us.
Lance              We pray for the sick at home and in hospital, that they may experience Christ’s presence with them.  Lord, hear us.
Danny             Let us pray for the emergency services who cared for Kiea in her time of need, that they may receive God’s grace and assistance.  Lord, hear us.
Brad                Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gifts of your priests. Through them we experience your presence in the sacraments.  Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.  Set their souls on fire with love for your people.  Lord, hear us.
Gaby               For the families and friends of Dlava, that they be consoled in their grief by the Lord who wept for Lazarus.  Lord, hear us.        
 
Offertory Presentation of Bread and Wine by Franky’s brother Mickey and Teresa’s sister.
 
Communion Hymns I Watch the Sunrise and Beyond the Rainbow
 
Post Communion Reflection entitled ‘Best Friends’ will not be read aloud.
 
Final commendation
Mass will conclude with the final commendation.  This will involve the incensing of the coffin, blessing with holy water and the final prayers.  The recessional hymn will be sung as Kiea’s remains are carried from the church to the cemetery of Mount Saint Oliver for burial.
 
The McCann Family wish to express their heartfelt thanks for the love, kindness, support and prayers extended to them at this very difficult time.
 
ENDS