P
Phemie
Guest
I know I often complain about liturgical matters but today I have a positive story to tell.
It starts with the sad fact that our beloved Pastor, who was known for walking into homes without knocking and asking for a cup of tea and a snack, suddenly became ill and died on Thursday. It was a shock to everyone but he died at peace having told the doctors to do their best but to not use any extraordinary means to keep him alive.
Today we had the Mass of Christian Burial for him, celebrated by the Bishop and concelebrated by three priests who will not be attending the diocesan funeral on Wednesday.
We knew he hated the stuff that he still allowed because when a family is in shock and grief it’s no time to tell them that they can’t have what previous priests have allowed over the years. So this morning there was no eulogy, no slide show, and no secular music. The Bishop’s homily spoke about St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians admonishing them not not to grieve as those with no faith grieve and the difference between the two. He asked us to pray for the soul of our pastor.
At Communion time, the Bishop reminded everyone, in a gentle way, that we don’t have open Communion. It was only the second time in my 18 years in this parish that I’ve heard that said - the last time was a few Christmases ago when we had a visiting priest ministering to us. It was important to make that clear since the members of the Ministerial Association, the ministers of all the Town’s ecclesial communities were in attendance. He invited anyone not receiving to be seated or to come forward for a blessing if they wished (OK, I can’t have everything.
)
I think it was exactly the way Fr. Aidan would have wanted it, except, as was joked about afterwards, he must be upset at not being able to partake in all the food that was on the tables in the sacristy at the post-funeral reception.
It starts with the sad fact that our beloved Pastor, who was known for walking into homes without knocking and asking for a cup of tea and a snack, suddenly became ill and died on Thursday. It was a shock to everyone but he died at peace having told the doctors to do their best but to not use any extraordinary means to keep him alive.
Today we had the Mass of Christian Burial for him, celebrated by the Bishop and concelebrated by three priests who will not be attending the diocesan funeral on Wednesday.
We knew he hated the stuff that he still allowed because when a family is in shock and grief it’s no time to tell them that they can’t have what previous priests have allowed over the years. So this morning there was no eulogy, no slide show, and no secular music. The Bishop’s homily spoke about St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians admonishing them not not to grieve as those with no faith grieve and the difference between the two. He asked us to pray for the soul of our pastor.
At Communion time, the Bishop reminded everyone, in a gentle way, that we don’t have open Communion. It was only the second time in my 18 years in this parish that I’ve heard that said - the last time was a few Christmases ago when we had a visiting priest ministering to us. It was important to make that clear since the members of the Ministerial Association, the ministers of all the Town’s ecclesial communities were in attendance. He invited anyone not receiving to be seated or to come forward for a blessing if they wished (OK, I can’t have everything.
)I think it was exactly the way Fr. Aidan would have wanted it, except, as was joked about afterwards, he must be upset at not being able to partake in all the food that was on the tables in the sacristy at the post-funeral reception.
