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Entrance Hymn: Here I am, Lord
INTRODUCTORY RITES
LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST READING:
A Reading from the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.11
Psalm: On Eagle’s Wings
SECOND READING
A reading from the second letter of St. Paul to Timothy. 2 c:6-8
Gospel Acclamation
Gospel
Homily
We gather here today in sadness with the family of Kay Hayes. Our thoughts are for you. We ask God to send his Consoler to bring his peace to your hearts and to your homes. We give thanks to God for the life that he gave Kay and pray in faith that he will welcome her home to everlasting happiness in heaven.
There is as the Scriptures remind us, a time for every season under heaven. As we gather in Laurencetown Church we reflect on the mystery of time and providence that are in God’s hands: there is indeed a time to die, a time to weep, a time to mourn, a time to keep silence, a time to speak, a time to love.
Holding a vigil for Kay in the Hospice and your home her family has shared memories of who she was and what she meant to them. We mourn her passing, we cherish her memory. Above all you have remembered the humanity of a good person. Today as we gather in sorrow to remember Kay. A burden of pain, burden of loss, burden of grief weighs heavily on you all. We gather as a community - our presence here today is our way of reaching out to the Hayes family.
Kay and her twin sister Amelia were born on February 25th 1951 to Emma and Laurence Hayes.She grew up in Hallsmill and attended Laurencetown P.S. and then St. Patrick's Banbridge. After leaving school Kay went to work in Down Shoes, Banbridge and remained there until it closed. Kay also worked in Bannville House, the Patrisse Coffee Shop, the Pot Belly and the Linen tearooms in Gilford, where she was a very hard and honest worker to all of them. Kay enjoyed travelling, dancing and nice meals. She loved shopping and the latest fashion - also loved a bargain! She was devoted to her late sister Rosheen and brother Gerry who resided in Canada. At home she was a great and loving sister to John and devoted carer to Amelia. Kay was respected by all the community.
We remember a lovely person with a good sense of humour, a lady who was a treasure to you all. Letting go of her today is not going to be easy for Kay was a great lover of family, people and life itself. Thank you to all who cared for her and loved her in life. Now her long years of suffering are over. As Kay has died now a part of you dies as well. You are filled with sorrow because her death leaves a gap that no-one else can fill adequately. We pray that she is with the Lord and we look forward to the day when we will be reunited with her. Christ’s resurrection assures us that if we follow him we will rise again.
Living a truly Catholic life is about waiting in hope and as people of hope we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Kay’s period of waiting is now over. No one can say she got life easy. All those years of worry, and sorrow and caring for her twin sister Amelia and her own failing health, when times were hard have made of her life a pilgrimage of pain - a journey from birth to death and the reason she could see purpose in the pain or sense in the suffering was because Jesus Christ came on this earth to conquer death and save us from our sins.
She brought love, care and friendship to those who knew her. Always faithful to her Church, prayer and fidelity to the mass and the sacraments were second nature to her. She died after her strength could no longer meet the challenge of life. Today then we bid farewell to Kay. Despite your sense of loss, you will face the future with courage and hope, knowing that that is what Kay would want you to do. We comfort one another in the sure confidence that for Kay life has changed, not ended. We also derive comfort from the conviction that she is at peace with God.
On behalf of the entire parish community I would like to extend our heartfelt sympathy to John, Amelia, friends and the entire family circle.
Prayer of the Faithful
Priest: As we stand before the mystery of death, Christ stands among us and says to us, ‘Courage! Do not be afraid.” With confidence let us place our prayers before him knowing that he will hear our plea.
Response: Lord, graciously hear us.
1. For Kay, who now shares in the joy of the kingdom where pain and suffering have no home. Lord, hear us
1. That we may let Kay go with love and trust into the hands of God. Lord, hear us
2. For all those who mourn for Kay, especially her brother John, her sister Amelia and her many friends that they may find comfort through their faith in God. Lord, hear us
3. For all who cared for Kay throughout her illness especially the doctors and nurses of the Mandeville Unit, Craigavon, Loughbrickland Health Centre and Southern Area Hospice. May the Lord reward them for their kind hearts and gentle hands. Lord, hear us
4. For all those who cared for Kay’s spiritual welfare, especially Fr. Powell and Sr. Fiona Galligan. Lord, hear us.
5. We pray for the dead and we remember especially Kay’s parents, Emma and Lawrence, her brothers Bill and Gerry, her sister Rosheen and all the departed who have died in the peace of Christ. May they enjoy eternal life. Lord, hear us
6. We now pray for our own special needs and intentions. …. pause.. Lord, hear us.
Priest: Lord, may you support us all day long, till the shadows lengthen and evening falls, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done; then in your mercy, Lord, grant us a safe lodging, a holy rest, and peace at last. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen
Offertory Procession:
Offertory Hymn: In Bread We Bring You Lord
Communion Hymns: I Watch The Sunrise
FINAL COMMENDATION
Final Hymn: Lady of Knock
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