Munster Express Online

Dear Sir,

I am very disappointed to hear the church is trying to get rid of Eulogies at funeral Masses when we lose a loved one. It is our last chance to say goodbye and I always find people recalling the good old times and maybe even a funny story to tell about the deceased. It makes the church more relevant in today’s society. In a time where the church is losing more and more of its flock I think it is a definite backword step for them.

If the deceased relatives aren’t given that three or four minutes to recall happier times it will further isolate the church from the young people of today and make them less relevant to our modern times. Remember it was silence that got the clergy in trouble in the past. Silencing the bereaved could be another fatal error of judgment on their behalf. Have they not learnt their lesson about silence? It is important for those who have lost a loved one to have that choice to say a good bye openly. This can be good therapy for those left behind and we should not be denied this very basic right to say our goodbye in what ever way we choose.

Another thing I notice when at Mass is that priests always seem to focus on the negative and I think they would be well advised to speak on positive issues for the young and old. Maybe the time has come to focus on why people are not going to mass, a survey perhaps.