- 11.00am Mass in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles, Archdiocese of Cashel & Emly
Chief Celebrant
Father Vincent Stapleton CC
Entrance Procession
Bell rings and entrance hymn begins For Good – priests begin to process out from sacristy
Introduction and presentation of the symbols (accompanied by Irish Girl instrumental)
Before we begin to pray Nicola’s funeral Mass, four symbols will be brought forward to give us four windows into Nicola’s life and character.
- Teegan, Nicola’s godchild, brings forward a Minnie Mouse headband. This represents Nicola’s love of Disney cartoons and characters
- Anne-Marie presents an Olly Murs CD – which reminds us of her love for music and especially Olly Murs.
- Clodagh brings forward a pair of runners – we remember her love for fashion and especially her many pairs of runners.
- Finally, Nelly and Aisling present a framed photo of all Nicola’s friends – because Nicola dearly loved all her friends.
Opening remarks
It is with great sadness that I welcome you here to the Cathedral, on this Thursday morning, as we offer together the holy sacrifice of the Mass for the repose of the soul of Nicola Louise Kenny of Kennedy Park. Her sudden passing on Monday morning has left a cloud hanging over us and none more so than her loving family and many friends, neighbours and work colleagues. We join with her parents Patrick and Ann, her brother Patrick, sister-in-law Anne Marie, her grandmothers Mary and Ann, uncles, aunts, godchild Teegan, nephew Darragh, cousins, relatives and a wide circle of friends and her Tesco work colleagues. I also wish to acknowledge this morning Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly and the concelebrating priests.
Funeral Mass
The Sign of the Cross and greeting
Penitential Rite – Kyrie
Opening Prayer
Let us pray
Lord our God,
You are always faithful and quick to show mercy.
Our sister, Nicola was suddenly taken from us.
Come swiftly to her aid,
Have mercy on her,
And comfort her family and friends
By the power and protection of the cross.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
The Liturgy of the Word
First Reading – A Reading from the book of Ecclesiastes
There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time for war, and a time for peace.
The Word of the Lord
Psalm
Here I am, Lord
I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night
I will make the darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them
Whom shall I send?
Here I am Lord
Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go Lord
If you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart.
I the Lord of snow and rain
I have borne my people’s pain
I have wept for love of them
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone
Fill their hearts with love alone
I will speak my word to them
Whom shall I send?
Here I am Lord
Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go Lord
If you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart.
I will hold your people in my heart…
Second Reading – A Reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Romans
The life and death of each of us has its influence on others; if we live, we live for the Lord. If we die, we die for the Lord, so that alive or dead we belong to the Lord. This explains why Christ both died and came to life, it was so he might be both Lord of the dead and of the living. We shall all have to stand before the judgement seat of God; as scripture says: ‘By my life – it is the Lord who speaks – every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall praise God’. It is to God, therefore, that each of us must give an account of himself.
The Word of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia …
I am the Resurrection and the Life says the Lord,
Whoever believes in me will never die
Alleluia …
Gospel – A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (11:17-27)
On arriving at Bethany, Jesus found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days already. Bethany is only about two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to sympathize with them over their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus had come she went to meet him. Mary remained sitting in the house. Martha said to Jesus, ‘If you had been here, my brother would not have died, but I know that, even now, whatever you ask of God, he will grant you. ‘Your brother’, said Jesus to her, ‘will rise again’. Martha said, ‘I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day’. Jesus said, ‘I am the Resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ ‘Yes, Lord’, she said, ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.’
The Gospel of the Lord
Homily notes
Based on the following lines from the readings, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies, he will live.” “The life and death of each of us has its influence on others.” “There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven. A time to be born, a time to die, a time to mourn, a time to dance.”
Prayer of the Faithful
God our Father, we come before you bewildered at this time of deep tragedy. We believe in your mercy, in your love for your children and in your comfort for all who grieve and mourn. And so we turn to you in prayer …
- Tomás – We pray for Nicola. In baptism she was given the pledge of eternal life. May she now be admitted to the company of the saints. Lord, hear us.
- Linzi – We pray for the family and friends of Nicola. In these difficult days may the Lord be their strength and consolation. Lord, hear us.
- Emma – We pray in thanksgiving for the paramedics, both on and off-duty and the emergency services who were quick to arrive on the scene to help Nicola, Anne and Irene. We offer a prayer for Irene who is currently in the ICU in Limerick hospital. Lord, hear us.
- Teresa – We pray for all our deceased relatives and friends especially Thomas Whelan, Nicola’s granddad who died in June 2013. May the Lord bring them into the light of His presence and give them a share in His glory. Lord, hear us.
Father Vincent – Nicola’s last great joy in life was to become a mother to baby Lily Rose. We pray for Lily Rose and ask Nicola and God’s guardian angel to continue to watch over her from heaven. Now we turn too to Mary, Mother of Sorrows; heavenly mother, you know our pain because it has been your pain too. We pray together … Hail Mary
Lord God, giver of peace and healer of souls, hear the prayers of the redeemer, Jesus Christ, and the voices of your people, whose lives were purchased by the blood of the Lamb. Take Nicola to yourself, grant her a place of rest and joy in your kingdom and bless all of us who are sorrowful at her loss. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist
Procession of the gifts – Nicola’s father Paddy and Veronica will bring forward the bread and wine which will become the body and blood of Christ offered by us in this Mass to our heavenly Father – accompanied by Irish Girl music.
Including Holy, Holy, Holy, the words of consecration, the mystery of faith
Our Father
Sign of Peace
Lamb of God
Communion – accompanied by Songbird, by Eva Cassidy, Turn Around by Nancy Griffith and instrumental by Eleanor Plunkett.
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray
Through these sacrificial gifts,
Which we have received, O Lord,
Bestow on your departed servant Nicola your great mercy
And to she, whom you have endowed with the grace of baptism
Grant also the fullness of eternal joy
Through Christ our Lord. Amen
Prayer of Final Commendation
Eulogy
Words of thanks
- To all who took a part in this ceremony, the different readers, those who brought forward the symbols and the gifts
- Musicians
- Those here at the Cathedral today, both outside the traffic stewards and the sacristy team inside
- Archbishop Kieran and the concelebrating priests
- Ryan’s Funeral Directors
- Staff of South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel – baby unit
- All of you who have travelled in such large numbers. Your presence and your prayers make a huge difference and are deeply appreciated by the family.
ENDS
For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 310 4444
