The Funeral Mass for Mary O’Rourke RIP will take place today at 12.00pm at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Coosan, Athlone. The Chief Celebrant for the Mass will be Father Patrick Murphy, Administrator of Saint Mary’s Parish. Mass will be followed by burial in Coosan cemetery. Bishop Paul Connell, Bishop of Ardagh & Clonmacnois, will preside at the Mass and will lead the Prayers of Final Commendation. The church’s webcam will livestream the Mass, see LINK
Please see below information on the Funeral Liturgy including the homily to be preached by Father Murphy:
Symbols
Before the Mass symbols of Mary’s life are brought forward by her six grandchildren:
Photo with Enda Sam O’Rourke
Fianna Fáil flag Jennifer O’Rourke
Mary’s book Luke O’Rourke
Rugby jersey Sarah O’Rourke
Mobile phone James O’Rourke
Newspaper Scott O’Rourke
Music
Music during the Mass will be provided by Bernard and Patrice Coyle
Hymns
Entrance You are mine.
Psalm The Lord is my Shepherd
Offertory Traditional air (Patrice on flute)
Communion In the quiet
Recessional How great thou art
Readings
First reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8,14 To everything there is a season
Second reading: 2Tim 4:6-8 I have fought the good fight.
Gospel: Jn 14:1-6 There are many rooms in my Father’s house
Homily by Father Patrick Murphy, Administrator of Saint Mary’s Parish, Athlone
“To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose in this life.”
For the O’Rourke family now is a time of grief and loss, a time of sadness as the family come to terms with the passing of a much loved mother and grandmother. I want to begin by offering my sympathies to Mary’s family: To her sons Feargal and Aengus, her daughters-in-law Maeve and Lisa, her grandchildren Jennifer, Luke, Sarah, Sam, James and Scott, her sister-in-law Etna, her nieces, nephews and all the extended family.
Mary Lenihan was born in Athlone and she was proud of where she came from. She grew up in a family steeped in politics, a family that had a high regard for public service. Mary married her beloved husband Enda O’Rourke from Irishtown in 1960, and they made their family home in Arcadia. Mary was a teacher of English, History and French in the local secondary school in Saint Joseph’s, Summerhill. I know that Mary is fondly remembered by the many pupils she taught and that she had a positive influence on them, encouraging the girls in so many ways during her teaching career.
It is no great surprise that Mary would enter politics, following in the footsteps of her father and brothers. She was the first woman elected to Athlone Urban District Council in 1974. This was at a time when few women were involved in local or national politics.
But Mary was blessed with that strong personality and character that allowed her to enter and to succeed in what was then a male dominated space. Her political achievements have been well documented and her commitment to public service is well known throughout the country. Throughout her life she worked tirelessly in the service of others. At local level with Athlone UDC and Westmeath County Council she strived to improve the lives of those she was elected to represent.
At the level of national politics Mary served as a Senator and TD, as Minister for Education, Minister for Health, and Minister for Public Enterprise in various governments. Over many years she has been a regular commentator and contributor on radio and television. She frequently wrote articles and opinion pieces for various daily and Sunday newspapers. Through her spoken and written words she enlightened us, challenged us, and even entertained us with her humour and wit. Mary’s contribution to public life has been enormous.
But politics and public service was only part of who Mary was. Family was at the heart of what was most important to her. She was devoted to her family, to her beloved husband Enda, to her children and grandchildren. Enda’s death was a great loss to her and left a deep void in her life.
As we reflect today on her life there is much to be thankful for. We give thanks to God for the gift of her life, for the love she shared with you her family, for the joy she brought to your lives, for the support and encouragement she gave you in so many ways.
When celebrating a Funeral Mass, it is not enough to look back in gratitude and thanksgiving for the life of the deceased. We need to do more. It is necessary also to look forward in faith and in hope. The readings help us to do this.
Saint Paul writing to Timothy is approaching the end of his life. He is in prison and he knows he will shortly be put to death. He looks back on his own life, profoundly grateful for the task the Lord has entrusted to him, the mission to proclaim Christ crucified and risen. He writes to Timothy: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”. But Paul also looks forward to the life that is yet to be revealed. His faith and trust is in the risen Christ.
We too are invited to look forward in hope to that life that is yet to be revealed.
The Gospel we have just heard is one we are so familiar with that we might forget the power of the message it contains. Jesus invites us to trust, to believe that his words are true. He says to us: “There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I am going now to prepare a place for you, and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you with me; so that where I am you may be too.”
Where Christ has gone we too hope to follow. This is the heart of our faith, the faith that assures us there is a life yet to be revealed. This is the faith that Mary shared in. I have no doubt it is a faith that strengthened her throughout her life.
And so, we now pray for Mary, that God may welcome her to the place He has prepared for her in the heavenly kingdom, and that she may come to that place of light and life in the presence of the Lord. Amen.
Prayer of the Faithful
The Prayer of the Faithful will be read by Sam O’Rourke, Sarah O’Rourke, Conor Lenihan (nephew), Scott O’Rourke, James O’Rourke and Seamus Smith (grandnephew).
Gifts
Gifts of Bread and Wine will be brought forward by Mary’s nieces, Anita Lenihan and Maura Walsh.
Communion reflection
Communion reflection will be read by Grainne Lenihan (niece).
Expression of Sympathy by Bishop Paul Connell
Before I recite the prayers of commendation I would like to express my sympathies to Ferghal, Aonghus, Maeve, Lisa and the grandchildren because for them first and foremost they grieve the loss today of a beloved mother and grandmother. Our prayers are very much with you today. We also give thanks for Mary’s over forty years of public service, rendered in the tradition of her father, brother and indeed her nephews, also. She was a dedicated politician who gave of her best in the service of her constituency and indeed the country. It is important that we acknowledge this, even if some of us did not agree at times with the positions she took or the decisions she made during her time in office. She made a major contribution to the State and was instrumental in widening the access and role for women in politics in this country.
We commend Mary to the God of Mercy with our prayers. As Saint Paul puts it – The life and death of each of us has its influence on others. And in the words of the Rite of Funerals – Blessed are they who die in the Lord. Let them rest from their labours for their good deeds go with them.
Final Prayers
Prayers of Final Commendation will be led by Bishop Paul Connell.
ENDS
