Last month, the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, issued a letter to clergy, parishioners and undertakers stating the practice of holding wakes with an open coffin in a church must come to an end.
The Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois is spread over parts of seven counties in the centre of Ireland including almost all of Longford, half of Leitrim and parts of Westmeath, Offaly, Cavan, Roscommon and Sligo.
In Leitrim, the parishes include Aughavas, Cloone, Carrick-on-Shannon (Kiltoghert), Dromard, Drumshanbo, Fenagh, Kiltubrid, Kilenummery and Killery, Mohill, Gortletteragh and Bornacoola.
Bishop Paul Connell said in recent months a practice had developed in some parishes around the use of churches for the Reposing of the Remains of those who have died.
He said the use of a church in a manner that “makes it like a funeral home” is not faithful to tradition.
However, Bishop Connell said there is no difficulty whatsoever with the remains reposing overnight, with a closed coffin, in the church.
The guidelines sparked a mixed reaction among parishioners in Leitrim and a meeting was held to discuss the new guidelines.
Councillor Cormac Flynn was part of a delegation of representatives from Kiltoghert, Bornacoola and Annaduff parishes that met with Bishop Paul Connell on Friday to discuss the recent guidelines.
Cllr Flynn said in the past 18 months, some people who live in rural areas and do not have access to a funeral home, had been using churches for reposals following the death of a loved one.
“These are rural and dark roads with no access to parking and no accessibility for wheelchair users so it meant their houses were not suitable in what would be a traditional wake.
“Funeral directors, with the permission of the local priests, had begun to use the churches for the purpose of reposals,” said Cllr Flynn.
Cllr Flynn attended the one hour meeting and during this time, Bishop Connell outlined his concerns about the use of the churches.
Bishop Connell’s concerns centred around the sanctity of the chapel as a place of worship being maintained and the liturgy of the funeral being adhered too.
Cllr Flynn said an agreement was met to ensure these issues could be maintained while also allowing local parishioners to use the church.
“The way we agreed was that when the deceased is brought to the chapel for The Reception of the Body, there must be somebody there, either a priest or a parish council member, to say prayers when the body arrives.
“Holy water is sprinkled on the coffin and the Paschal candle is lit and put beside the coffin, as would be the case in any traditional removal.
“We asked could the reposing times of the deceased person where the family remain in the chapel be extended and Bishop Connell did not see a problem with that.
“The reposing will continue as the practice had been happening up to now, but with the sanctity of the chapel being maintained and the literature of the funeral being adhered to,” said Cllr Flynn.
Cllr Flynn explained families will be allowed to stay in the church for an extended period of time and allow people to attend and sympathise.
He believes this will avoid a large number of parishioners gathering at the church at the one time and ensure the church is respected.
“The wording of a funeral notice might read the coffin will arrive at the church at 5pm with the family remaining in attendance until 7.30pm.
“It takes the pressure point of a start time away because previously, a large crowd of people were arriving at the one time for the removal.
“If there was a big crowd, people had to stand outside the church, there would be limited parking and people would have to walk a bit of a distance.
“Some of these people are infirm and unable to stand that length of time.
“There was safety issues with traffic disruption, cars parked on the side of the road, agricultural machinery going up and down unlit roads with heavy traffic in the area.
“The extended time takes the condensed nature of the traditional removal away and allows close family members and neighbours to attend the traditional removal and the sympathisers can stagger their arrival to the chapel over a period following the removal.
“It provides parishioners with a safe access to attend these reposals and the family still have, if they wish, the ability to bring their loved one home after the reposal for a traditional wake.
“I hope people don't confuse the reposing in the church with a wake.
“The wake happens at home if families have the ability to do so,” said Cllr Flynn.
Bishop Connell said the recent direction was issued as some parishes had asked for guidance on the matter.
Bishop Connell said, “When the remains of a member of the faithful are received at the church, the appropriate liturgical text provided in the Funeral Ritual should be used.
“When the remains are received in the church, placed before the altar, and kept overnight, the coffin should always be closed,” explained the guidelines.
Bishop Connell said a Church is designed for public worship, quiet prayer and reflection and reposing in its nature may involve loud engagement and even the provision of hospitality.
He also added that the guidelines make clear that the traditional removal ceremony can be employed as long as it does not involve an open coffin in church.
Bishop Connell said the Diocese is “anxious to facilitate parishioners” in whatever way it can, particularly at the "most sensitive time of a bereavement.”
“In that light the use of parish halls, parish centres or other such parish properties for reposing is quite acceptable and poses no difficulty.
“The use of a church however for such a purpose is inappropriate given the sacred nature of the building and in particular the presence of the blessed sacrament.
“A church is designed for public worship and quiet prayer and reflection.
“Reposing by its nature may involve loud engagement and even the provision of hospitality.”
The guidelines state that wakes, with an open coffin, are not permitted in churches.
In a statement clarifying the guidelines, Bishop Connell said, “There has been no change to the traditional Catholic funeral service, which includes a removal of the remains to the church the evening before the Funeral Mass, when the remains are met with prayers and the opportunity for people to sympathise with the family afterwards.
“The coffin remains closed during this removal service as it does during the Funeral Mass.
“There is no difficulty whatsoever with the remains reposing overnight, with a closed coffin, in the church,” said the guidelines.
In conclusion, Cllr Flynn thanked Bishop Connell for meeting with the delegation and listening to their concerns.
“I am glad the Bishop and his Diocesan priests were able to regain the narrative on this because I had sympathy for them all because the narrative was taken away for them,” said Cllr Flynn.
The Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois has been contacted for an updated response.