PARISHES ACROSS THE Midlands and the West have been instructed to stop facilitating wakes inside Catholic churches.

The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference today published a letter that was recently sent to funeral directors by Bishop Paul Connell, Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois.

The Bishops’ Conference said this letter clarified that wakes, with an open coffin, are not permitted in churches and that this does not represent any change in the traditional Catholic funeral service.

It added that there is “no difficulty whatsoever with the remains reposing overnight (with a closed coffin) in the church”.

In the letter, Bishop Connell said that he wanted to “clarify the question of reposing of remains in churches, a practice that has begun in some parishes in recent months”.

The diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois includes nearly all of Longford, the greater part of Leitrim, and parts of Cavan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath.

He directed that from 9 February, the reposing of remains would not be permitted in any Catholic church in the diocese and that the practice would have to stop in parishes where it has been introduced.

He also called for parish communities to “look at other possibilities within the area” for hosting wakes.

While he said the diocese is “anxious to facilitate our parishioners in whatever way we can”, Bishop Connell added that it was “inappropriate” to have an open-coffin wake in churches “given the sacred nature of the building and in particular the presence of the blessed sacrament”. 

He further states that churches are “designed for public worship and quiet prayer and reflection” and that wakes “may involve loud engagement and even the provision of hospitality”.

He added that the “use of parish halls, parish centres or other such parish properties for reposing is quite acceptable and poses no difficulty”.

Writing further, Bishop Connell said that the Christian burial has “three stations”, that of the home, the church, and the place of committal, and that between these there is a procession.

And while he noted that the “station” of the home where the wake is held now often takes place in a funeral home, he added that the “use of a church in a manner that makes it like a funeral home is not faithful to the tradition that we hold”.

He said that the element that takes place in the church “should always be in the context of faith and worship”.

Bishop Connell added that when the remains are “received in the church, placed before the altar, and kept overnight, the coffin should always be closed”.

Meanwhile, Bishop Connell stated that the “demand for reposing in churches” is not just related to a lack of available venues, but also because of the “perceived high cost of the use of a funeral home by comparison”. 

“Many families experience financial pressure in relation to funerals,” said Bishop Connell.

“I respectfully request funeral directors to be conscious of this and accordingly to continue to offer their facilities at reasonable rates to bereaved families.”

‘Would never have happened years ago’

Speaking earlier this month on The Joe Finnegan Show on Shannonside, Bishop Connell said he didn’t know why the practice was allowed in the first place.

He noted that he was new to the diocese and added that it was his understanding that the practice began recently.

Bishop Connell said some people cited the cost of a funeral home, while others pointed to the lack of a venue.

He added: “It certainly is something that a number of years ago never would have happened.”

He also called for “balancing the sacred with practice that has suddenly grew up out of nowhere”.

Bishop Connell also denied claims that there had been no consultation on the decision and said “there was a balance of views that I had to make a judgement on”.

And while he said he understood that people may be upset, he added that “there are ways of doing things in the interests of everybody and we have to adhere to that”.

“We have to adhere to some norms and there is a Catholic burial rite that has been there for many years.

“I would ask people to reflect on the fact that when they were younger, this never happened, ever.”