|
Bereavement Ministry
 
I began my music ministry over 30 years ago
when I joined a music group at Sts Peter and Paul Catholic Church in
Kingston, Jamaica. I continued my involvement in church liturgy when
I came to Toronto in 1976 and joined the parish choir. Later, I
joined a group of guitarists to play and sing at the folk mass.
Occasionally, I was asked to sing and play at weddings and funerals.
Over the past fifteen years I have had increasing requests to sing and play
at funerals. As I became more involved in this special type of
liturgy, I became aware of the tremendous burden and stress families
experience during the initial stages of planning funeral arrangements for a
family member who has died. I saw their confusion, frustration,
despair, helplessness, worry all mixed with feelings of grief and sadness.
When I first witnessed this struggle that grieving families experienced, I
was filled with compassion for them and decided to do something to help
families in similar circumstances in future. I believe my decision
was inspired by the Holy Spirit.
In preparing for undertaking this ministry
to the bereaved, I put together a collection of resource materials
consisting of the following:
- Scripture readings, prayers and
songs
appropriate for funeral
liturgies.
- Outline of the mass or service.
- Format for printed programs.
- Funeral planning guide.
- List of churches, funeral homes
and cemeteries.
with addresses, contact names
and phone numbers.
In addition, I arranged contacts with
people with expertise in computer graphics to finalize and print the
programs. I also acquired my own complete portable sound system that
I take with me to churches and funeral homes.
The process of ministering to the bereaved
family usually begins when I get a call from a family member. My
first response is to express my condolences and after determining the
nature of assistance required, I arrange to meet with the family at their
home to discuss the funeral plans in detail. I help them to select
the readings, songs and prayers and advise them on the proper procedures to
follow during the liturgy. Throughout the discussions, I try to
maintain a keen sensitivity of their grief and demonstrate empathy and
understanding regarding their loss of a family member. Occasionally,
I will accompany them to meet with the church pastor and funeral director.
If required, I will coordinate a wake
service at the funeral home during the visitation period on the evening
before the funeral mass and also lead the singing at the burial service at
the cemetery.
The support I give to the community through
my bereavement ministry is my response to a great need at a very emotional
time for families who find it very difficult to deal with funeral
arrangements while trying to cope with their grief.
I truly believe God has led me to this
ministry and I thank Him for the gift of music that helps to bring some
comfort and consolation to those who mourn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted." - Matthew 5: 4
"Make me a channel of your
peace, where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope, Where there is
darkness, only light, and where there’s sadness, ever joy." - Prayer of
St. Francis
 
|
