28 December 2011 – Overview for media of funeral liturgy for Bishop Thomas Finnegan RIP

01 Jan 2012

Requiem Mass for Bishop Thomas Finnegan in Saint Muredach’s Cathedral,
Ballina, Co Mayo, takes place today 28 December 2011 at 12:00 noon.
Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland,
together with Bishop John Fleming, Bishop of Killala, and bishops and
priests from around the country will process with concelebrating
bishops and priests from the sacristy of Saint Muredach’s Cathedral to
the main door, where they will enter the Cathedral and process up the
central aisle to celebrate this Requiem Mass.

Chief mourners
Mrs Mary Teresa Finnegan (sister-in-law).  Nieces: Ms Olivia Ward, Ms
Leonie Curran, Ms Theola Finnegan, Ms Davona Finnegan; and nephews: Mr
Shane Finnegan and Mr Coleman Hanly.

Main Con-celebrants
Bishop John Fleming, Cardinal Sean Brady; Archbishop Michael Neary,
Archbishop of Tuam; and Bishop Christopher Jones, Bishop of Elphin,
will be in choral dress and seated in the Sanctuary of the Cathedral
during the celebration of the Mass.

Choir
Saint Muredach’s Cathedral Choir will sing during the Mass. The
conductor of the choir is Mrs Una Loftus and the Organist is Ms Regina
Deasy.  The bishops and priests will sing ‘Salve Regina’ by the
graveside.

Master of Ceremonies
Father Muredach Tuffy (to direct the liturgy throughout the Mass)
Servers and Acolytes (candle bearers).

Seminarians from the national seminary Saint Patrick’s College,
Maynooth, Co Kildare, and from Beda College, Rome:
1. Joseph Hogan – Thurifer
2. Thomas Doherty – Candle
3. Joseph Merrick – Candle

Readers
1st Reading: Ms Leonie Curran, (a niece of Bishop Finnegan)
Psalm sung by: Anne Boylan, (Saint Muredach’s Cathedral Choir,)
2nd Reading: Ms Kathleen Duffy, (The parish of Kilmoremoy, Ballina.)

Prayer of the Faithful
1. Coleman Hanly, nephew
2. Sister Goretti McGowan, (Sister of Jesus and Mary, Enniscrone)
3. Davona Finnegan, niece
4. Ms Ann Ford (Lacken Parish)
5. Father Michael Flynn
6. Mr Tommie Gorman
7. Theola Finnegan, niece

Offertory Procession
Grandnephews and grandnieces of Bishop Finnegan.

Burial
Various members of Bishop Finnegan’s family will be pall bearers and
carry the remains of Bishop Finnegan from the Cathedral to his burial
place in the grounds outside. Archbishop Neary will lead prayers at
the graveside. Bishop Christy Jones will pray a decade of the Rosary.
Then the remains will be laid beside the graves of his predecessors,
bishops Thomas Feeney (d.1837), Hugh Conway (d.1873), John Conmy
(d.1893).

ENDS

Further information from Martin Long, Catholic Communications Office,
Maynooth, 00 353 861727678