Development of Funeral Ministry Teams within the Archdiocese
In response to Archbishop Farrell’s Pastoral Letter, “Servants of Consolation and Witnesses of Hope: Ministry to the Bereaved in a Time of Change” (Nov. 2023), the Greystones and Kilquade Pastoral Area in the past 12 months has reconstituted and trained our Funeral Ministry Team.
The team currently consists of 12-14 clergy and lay people, men and women, who have been trained in providing support around the time of the funeral. In this past year, our lay Funeral Ministry Team members have been assisting our clergy at the rituals that the Church offers the bereaved.
From June 2025, following Diocesan guidelines, members of the Funeral Ministry Team will begin supporting bereaved families by leading the prayers at the graveside within our Pastoral Area. This is part of an ongoing Diocesan programme encouraging members of the laity to serve their faith community in providing pastoral care to families at the time of bereavement.
As a faith community, we are blessed to have a very dedicated Funeral Ministry Team in place to take up this role. We thank them for all they have done and will do. Please keep them and all those they will serve in your prayers during this time of transition.