Ravensdale Parishioners Growing Disquiet
Over recent years there has been considerable criticism of the stewardship of Fr Padraig Murphy, PP, St Mary's Church, Ravensdale, and in particular his handling of finer details of requested Masses for funerals.
He has been seen to impose his own rather inflexable viewpoints, not generally associated with a man of his relatively tender years, but which might be excused in someone of a much older generation.
In recent times, in the rapidly changing world, there is a growing tendency for young people to celebrate the lives of their departed peers at funerals, by bringing artifacts associated with the tragically deceased young person to the altar during Mass, and to read eulogies about their lives, which sometimes might include a poignant song with touching lyrics.
Fr. Murphy is totally opposed to this, and has alienated many parishoners by his dictatorial attitude, and his unwillingness to accommodate people in their hour of grief.
The largest funeral ever to take place in the parish was the recent burial of Ryan Byrne, Annaskeagh, Mountpleasant, Dundalk, aged 21, who died tragically in a road accident.
Fr. Murphy was on holiday during the period but his imposed instructions meant that the massive crowd who were unable to get inside St. Mary's Church, including all his school-friends who formed a Guard of Honour outside, could not hear the Mass.
It was very sympathetically concelebrated by Fr. Keenan, who is originally from the area, and a friend of the family, with two colleagues from other parishes, who are also friends of the family.
The sight of Ryan's motorcycle helmet, and a pair of much loved boots at the altar, and the eulogy delivered by his younger sister Sinead, and a poignant little song from a young member of the extended family, would bring a tear from a stone.
All this was lost to the massive crowd outside because of Fr. Murphy's instruction that the outside speakers of the PA system should not be switched on in case it would disturb the children in the adjoining school.
On his return from holiday it appears he vented his anger on Fr. Keenan over how the Mass was celebrated, and in particular of the presence of the helmet and boots at the altar, and the song. He instructed Fr. Keenan to make his views known to the grieving Byrne family and tell them that he would personally call on them to convey his fury.
A timely warning by way of a reply to Fr. Murphy from the Byrne family, stopped his ill-advised proposed visit from taking place, but the upshot of his lack of sympathy and understanding is that the forthcoming Month's Mind mass for Ryan will not take place in their home parish but instead right across town in Haggardtown, as the family distance themselves from Fr. Murphy.
It is simply astonishing in these troubled times for the Catholic Church, that Fr. Murphy, and many others like him, cannot move with the times and seek to bring people back to religion, instead of consistently alienating them.
It is also probably significant that the funeral Mass for another parishioner, who died in the last few days, was celebrated in Dundalk, rather than in St. Mary's Church, with internment taking place afterwards to Calvary Cemetary, Ravensdale.
He has been seen to impose his own rather inflexable viewpoints, not generally associated with a man of his relatively tender years, but which might be excused in someone of a much older generation.
In recent times, in the rapidly changing world, there is a growing tendency for young people to celebrate the lives of their departed peers at funerals, by bringing artifacts associated with the tragically deceased young person to the altar during Mass, and to read eulogies about their lives, which sometimes might include a poignant song with touching lyrics.
Fr. Murphy is totally opposed to this, and has alienated many parishoners by his dictatorial attitude, and his unwillingness to accommodate people in their hour of grief.
The largest funeral ever to take place in the parish was the recent burial of Ryan Byrne, Annaskeagh, Mountpleasant, Dundalk, aged 21, who died tragically in a road accident.
Fr. Murphy was on holiday during the period but his imposed instructions meant that the massive crowd who were unable to get inside St. Mary's Church, including all his school-friends who formed a Guard of Honour outside, could not hear the Mass.
It was very sympathetically concelebrated by Fr. Keenan, who is originally from the area, and a friend of the family, with two colleagues from other parishes, who are also friends of the family.
The sight of Ryan's motorcycle helmet, and a pair of much loved boots at the altar, and the eulogy delivered by his younger sister Sinead, and a poignant little song from a young member of the extended family, would bring a tear from a stone.
All this was lost to the massive crowd outside because of Fr. Murphy's instruction that the outside speakers of the PA system should not be switched on in case it would disturb the children in the adjoining school.
On his return from holiday it appears he vented his anger on Fr. Keenan over how the Mass was celebrated, and in particular of the presence of the helmet and boots at the altar, and the song. He instructed Fr. Keenan to make his views known to the grieving Byrne family and tell them that he would personally call on them to convey his fury.
A timely warning by way of a reply to Fr. Murphy from the Byrne family, stopped his ill-advised proposed visit from taking place, but the upshot of his lack of sympathy and understanding is that the forthcoming Month's Mind mass for Ryan will not take place in their home parish but instead right across town in Haggardtown, as the family distance themselves from Fr. Murphy.
It is simply astonishing in these troubled times for the Catholic Church, that Fr. Murphy, and many others like him, cannot move with the times and seek to bring people back to religion, instead of consistently alienating them.
It is also probably significant that the funeral Mass for another parishioner, who died in the last few days, was celebrated in Dundalk, rather than in St. Mary's Church, with internment taking place afterwards to Calvary Cemetary, Ravensdale.
posted by Editor at 12:59 p.m.
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