Members of SSVP walk to the casket and reverence the body before beginning.  They may either form a standing circle around the coffin or be seated.

INTRODUCTION

Thank you, Frank, the children and grandchildren for allowing us, the members of Margaret’s parish family and her Vincentian family to share in this evening’s prayer and remembrance of our sister, Margaret.  We offer you our prayers and our continued support.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

R;  Amen

May the love of God, who is our comfort and our strength, be always with you.

R:  And also with you

OPENING PRAYER

O God to whom mercy and forgiveness belong, hear our prayers on behalf of our sister, Margaret, whom you have called out of this world; and because Margaret put her hope and trust in you. Command that she may be carried safely home to heaven and come to know the joy of your eternal reward.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

R:  Amen

LITURGY OF THE WORD

A reading from the book of Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 15: 7-8, 10)

If one of your kinsmen in any community is in need, in the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor close your hand to him in his need. Instead you shall open your hand to him and freely lend him enough to meet his need.
When you give, give freely and not with ill will, for the Lord your God will bless you for this in all your works and undertakings.

The word of the Lord.

PSALM 27

Response:  The Lord is my light and my salvation

The Lord is my light and my help.
Who shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life,
Before whom shall I shrink?

R:

There is one thing I ask of the Lord,
For this I long,
To live in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To savour the goodness of the Lord,
To behold His temple.

R:

I am sure that I shall see the Lord’s goodness
In the land of the living.
Hope in Him, hold form, take heart;
Hope in the Lord.

R:

GOSPEL

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 25: 31-40)

When the Son of Man comes in all his glory and all his angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne and all the nations will be assembled before him.  And he will separate them one from the other as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.  Then the King will say to those in his right, “Come you who are blessed by my Father.  Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For when I was hungry you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me. “
Then the righteous will answer him and say, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you drink?  When did we see you a stranger and welcome you or naked and clothe you?  When did we see you in prison and visit you?”
And the King will say to them in reply, “Amen I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”

This is the gospel of the Lord.

REFLECTION

We gather tonight to remember our sister Margaret.  We thank God for the blessing that Margaret was too Frank and her children, her siblings, her friends and to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.

Margaret was a care giver.  She took care of Frank and their children.  As the kids grew up she expanded her care to include others… To the CWL…  To those she brought holy communion…  To everyone else she prayed for.  Margaret was one of the first women to become a member of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint John the Baptist Conference.

Margaret lived her vocation as Vincentian.  She gave witness to God’s instructions in the Deuteronomy reading.  She never closed her hand or her heart  to anyone in need.  She gave freely of her time and her talents.  In her later years when ill health could have stopped Margaret from being an active Vincentian, she still managed to help Frank collect donations from the seniors’ parties and she made mittens and hats for our Christmas gifts.

As humble as she was, Margaret would probably say that she didn’t do so much, that she enjoyed doing things for others, that making those mittens and hats gave her something to do when she couldn’t get out.   But really, Margaret was living the gospel we just heard.  Along with Frank she brought food to the hungry, clothed those who needed warm winter things and welcomed all who needed her.

St. Vincent de Paul said, “How happy will they be who can repeat at the hour of their death, those beautiful words of our Lord, ‘He has sent me to bring Good News to the poor.’”

All of us will miss Margaret, especially Frank and the family, but we know that she is now with God.  Margaret was the faithful servant.  We believe that she is, right now, in heaven where we will be reunited with her one day.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Let us turn to Christ Jesus who willingly accepted death and gave his life so that we might live forever.  In faith we say:  LORD HEAR US.

For our sister Margaret, that she might be welcomed into the company of the saints through whom we pray:  LORD HEAR US.

For Frank and all of Margaret’s family and friends, that they will receive comfort in their time of loss we pray: LORD HEAR US

For all of the benefactors of the poor, that God may reward them with eternal life, we pray: LORD HEAR US.

For those who have no homes, that they may quickly find a place where they can live a decent and happy life, we pray:  LORD HEAR US

For all who are suffering, that God may give them courage and consolation, we pray: LORD HEAR US.

Immaculate heart of Mary  PRAY FOR US.

St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary  PRAY FOR US.

Blessed Frederic Ozanam  PRAY FOR US.

Together let us pray as Jesus taught us.   OUR FATHER…

( A family member may want to speak at this time.)

PRESENTATION OF THE CANDLE

Please accept this candle, Frank, from the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.  It is the candle that is lit whenever Vincentian brothers and sisters gather.  We invite you to light it as often as you like as you say a prayer for our sister Margaret.  We hope that as you light your candle you will also think of our Vincentian family.  We will continue to keep Margaret and your family in our prayers and we will be available to you when and if you need us.  Margaret was a vital part of our Society and she will be missed.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Into your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our sister Margaret.
In this life you embraced her with your tender love.
Deliver her now from every evil and bid her enter eternal rest.

CONCLUDING RITE

Blessed are they who have died in the Lord;
Let them rest from their labours for their good deeds go with them.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.

R:  And let perpetual light shine upon her

May she rest in peace.

R:  Amen

May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R:  Amen

BLESSING

May God bless you and be with you in this time of sorrow.
In the tears of others, know that he weeps with you.
In the touch of others, know that his arms are holding you.
In the practical words of others, know that he is helping you cope from day to day.
In the words of others, know that he is speaking to you.
In the prayers of others know that he hears you.
And in the desolation of this time, know that by each tear, touch, act, word and prayer, others are bringing God to you.
May God the Almighty bless us, the Father and the Son and the Holy spirit.

Amen