Holy Family Catholic Church Mervue

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Preparing for Baptism:
Parents are required to contact the parish office and will need to fill in a small form and
give a copy of birth certificate. You should be from the parish. If you are not from the parish
you need to get permission from the parish you are in to have the baptism outside of the
parish.
Baptisms take place in the Holy Family Mervue Parish Church on the 3rd Saturday of the
month and are limited to three children.
The Baptismal team of the Holy Family Mervue  help in the Ministry of Baptism. Training
programs for parents of children receiving Baptism are held on the Tuesday before the
baptism @ 10 am in the back room of church. It is an opportunity to get more insight into
the sacrament and understanding the role

Confession
Confessions is available after 9.30 am Mass
every Friday and weekdays after mass by request

Church Requirements for Marriage.

Both bride and groom are required to give 3 months notice to their current local
parish priest (that is, in the last parish where they have lived and attended Mass for 6
months or more).

It would also be courteous to give 3 months notice to the parish priest of the church where
the marriage will take place, and to the priest who will officiate at the ceremony.

Attendance at a Pre-marriage Course is mandatory.
In some areas, these should be booked one year in advance, due to demand. We
recommend that you book your pre-marriage course when you book your hotel.

See below for details about local pre-marriage courses.

Both bride and groom must contact the relevant parish priests (or parish offices) to
obtain the following documents:

*** Please note that each of these documents must be dated within six months of the
marriage date ***

Recent Certificate of Baptism

Recent Certificate of Confirmation

Letter of Freedom from each parish where the person to be married has lived for six months
or more since age 18 years

Both bride and groom must arrange to meet their current local parish priest to
complete the Pre-Nuptial Enquiry Form. This meeting should take place at least two
months, and not more than six months, before the wedding.
Both bride and groom must bring the following documents to the meeting with their priest
to complete the Pre-Nuptial Enquiry Form:

Recent Certificate of Baptism
Recent Certificate of Confirmation

Letter of Freedom from each parish where the person to be married has lived for six months
or more since age 18 years

Marriage Registration Form from the State Registrar of Marriages (The Marriage
Registration Form is reviewed by the priest at the meeting, and is returned immediately to
the bride/groom.)

If one of the partners is not Roman Catholic, their current local parish priest will organise
a Letter of Dispensation from their local Bishop.

For both bride and groom, their current local parish priest retains all of the
documents (except the Marriage Registration Form), and forwards these documents with
the Pre-Nuptial Enquiry Form to the parish priest of the church where the marriage will take
place.

Exception: If either the bride or the groom currently resides outside the state, their
parish priest will forward the paperwork to their local diocesan office, who in turn will
forward the paperwork to the diocesan office of the parish where the marriage will take
place, who in turn will forward the paperwork to the parish priest of the church where the
marriage will take place.

The following Pre-Marriage Courses are Accepted:
Accord, Galway — (091) 562331 —  www.accord.ie
Redemptorist Fathers, Esker, Athenry — (091) 844549
Mount Argus, Dublin — (01) 2964257 —  www.together.ie

Civil(State) Requirements for Marriage
Since 1st August 1996, a marriage will not be valid in civil law unless three months
notification has been given to the Registrar of Marriages.

On 5th November 2007, the following new civil marriage regulations came into effect:

  • The couple must meet in person with the Registrar at least 3 months before the
    wedding.
  • Contact the Registrar early to ensure a timely appointment.
  • The couple must bring the following information:
    Photo identity — passport or driving licence
  • PPS Numbers
  • Name, address and date of birth of each witness
  • Proposed date of marriage
  • Name of the church where they wish to marry
  • Name of the priest who is to officiate — must be on the List of Solemnisers registered with the Registrar of Marriages
  • The couple will receive from the Registrar a Marriage Registration Form— without this form, the couple cannot get married.

For further details, contact your priest or local Marriage Registration Office.

Address: Registrar of Marriages, Health Service Executive (HSE) Offices, Shantalla,
Galway URL: http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/bdm/marriagesinireland

Wedding Ceremony
Music
Music will add to the joyful atmosphere of your wedding. Be sure however, that the music is
suitable, respecting the sacred character of the occasion. Check out all music with
your priest — and organist or other musicians — well before your wedding day.

Flowers
The use of flowers and plants, if arranged in good taste, can heighten the festive spirit of the
marriage ceremony. However, over decoration and placing of flowers in unsuitable locations
(e.g. where they hide the design of the altar or lectern, confetti ) must be avoided.

Photographs and Video-Recording
If photographs are to be taken at any time during the ceremony, they should be
taken discreetly from a distance, without in any way distracting from the ceremony. It is not
appropriate to enter the sanctuary area to take photographs or videos during the ceremony.
Installing equipment (tripods, lights and leads etc.) for photo/video purposes is
permitted only with consultation with a priest of the parish and/or the presiding priest. If
this is to take place, then the equipment should be in place 30 minutes before the ceremony
begins, i.e., before the people start arriving in church.

Funeral Resources
If you are reading this page due to the fact you have just been bereaved, we
the priests of the parish would like to offer you our deepest sympathy at this
time and an assurance that, to the best of our ability, we will ensure that the
funeral of the person you love will be a dignified, gentle, appropriate and
prayerful ceremony. We will assist in any way we can.
Fr. Martin Glynn PP


Some guidance to help you in Preparing for a Funeral In Our Parish
You are not on your own, we are here with you.

  • Remember there is no rush; be gentle with yourself things will fall into place.
  • The most important person to contact after a death is the funeral Directors. They
    will have the professional and personal experience to talk you through every step of
    the way and they will guide you in all the immediate decisions that have to be made.
    There are a number of local firms but you can choose from any undertaker you wish.
    The website www.rip.ie has a full list.
  • The next step you should then take is to contact the parish – either our Parish Office
    or either  Fr. Martin. They will arrange to meet up with you at a time convenient to
    you as best as possible. They will talk you through every step of the funeral
    arrangements, they will provide resources, they will answer questions and they will
    make suggestions and help give direction.
  • Again, make arrangements slowly. There are always a number of alternatives and
    possibilities. Remember to take into account the needs of those having to travel
    distances and also the needs of those who are deeply grieving, there is no rush.
     

Funeral Mass

The Funeral Mass is principally a prayer to God, asking for his love and mercy and
commending to him the soul of the recently deceased.
All prayers, words and music need to be appropriate and should respect this intention and
of the sacredness of the Christian liturgy.


Participation in the Funeral Mass by family members and friends of the person who has died
is welcome and encouraged.


However, funerals can be intensely stressful. Therefore, no family or friend should feel
obliged or pressured in any way to actively participate in any particular aspect of the Mass.


Structure for Participation in a Funeral Mass


Eulogy And Welcome (Optional)

  • At the BEGINNING of the Funeral Mass, a family member or friend can choose to give
    a brief eulogy and offer words of welcome no longer than five minutes.
  • This person should be a clear, strong speaker.
  • This is not the time or the place for anecdotes or funny stories.

Life Symbols (Optional)

  • If symbols representing the life of the deceased person are to be taken to the altar,
  • this must also be done at the BEGINNING of Mass, after the brief eulogy.
  • Symbols should be respectful, dignified and appropriate.
  • Someone should give a brief commentary on these symbols.
  • This can be the same person who gives the brief eulogy.

Scripture Readings (Participation Optional)

  • There are Two Readings from Scripture, First Reading, one Psalm and a Second
    Reading.
  • One reader can do all three (First Reading, Psalm and Second Reading).
  • Two readers are also appropriate (First Reading/Psalm and Second Reading).
  • The Psalm may or may not be sung.
  • The Priest will usually choose the Gospel Reading.
  • See below for Scripture Reading choices.

Prayers Of The Faithful (Participation Optional)

  • Prayers of the Faithful can be offered by family members and friends.
  • Six prayers are normally sufficient and one, two or more readers can be chosen.
  • As a general norm, the more personal the prayer the better.
  • Prayers must always be addressed to God, giving Him thanks and asking for grace
    and mercy – they are not to be mini-speeches or eulogies.
  • See below for a template set of Prayers of the Faithful.


Offertory Procession (Participation Optional)

  • Two people can bring the Bread and Wine to the altar at this time in the Mass.

Post-communion Reflection (Optional)

  • A brief religious prayer, poem or piece of prose can be read after Holy Communion.
  • A piece of religious music can also be appropriately played or sung.
  • There are no further eulogies or speeches at this time.

Music at a Funeral Mass
While music is not obligatory, good, well-chosen and appropriate music can add greatly to
the meaningful celebration of a Funeral Mass.
Such music and song can help us pray, can cause us to reflect, can lift our hearts in hope,
can inspire us and bring us peace.
However, since a Funeral Mass is not a mere secular memorial service, but a profoundly
Christian celebration entirely focused on our loving God, great care must be taken that all
music and singing is chosen to support and enhance the liturgy.
Music and song is always optional and the following places in the Funeral Mass are
appropriate:

  • Opening hymn (after eulogy is there is one)
  • Psalm (if not being read)
  • Alleluia verse
  • Offertory hymn (an instrumental is also appropriate)
  • Hymns during Holy Communion (two are usually sufficient)
  • Post Communion reflection (an instrumental is also appropriate)
  • Hymn as coffin is taken from the church (an instrumental is also appropriate)
    Note:
    A song or piece of music could also be chosen to be sung in the graveyard at the
    completion of all the Burial Prayers.
    Instrumentals, even secular ones, are nearly always appropriate.
    Secular songs, which bring to mind the person who has died, are best sung at the wake or
    at a gathering after the Funeral Mass.

 
Some Appropriate Hymns for a Funeral Mass

Amazing Grace
Nearer My God to Thee
How Great Thou Art
As I Kneel Before Thee
Panis Angelicus
Abide With Me
The Day Thou Gave Us
Sweet Heart of Jesus
Our Lady of Knock
Soul Of My Saviour
Going Home

Ag Críost An Síol
Hail Queen of Heaven
Here I Am Lord
Be Not Afraid
Jesus Remember Me (Taize)
You Raised Me Up
Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
Ave Maria – various versions
I Am The Bread of Life
Céad Mîle Fáilte Romhat
A Mhuire Mháthair
Fáilte Romhat a Rí na nAingeal

Some appropriate Readings for a Funeral Mass

  • Old Testament Readings For Funeral Mass
  • Responsorial Psalms for Funeral Mass
  • New Testament Readings for Funeral Mass
  • Gospel Readings for Funeral Mass
  • Prayers of the Faithful for Funeral Mass
  • Communion Reflections for Funeral Mass