A Celebration of Life

It was my honor to participate in the funeral Mass held for Hayden Louis O'Brien. Funerals are never easy. This one was especially sad. The church was small, I think it help just about 100 people. There were about 250-300 people outside. The weather was hot and humid. The crowd gathered around, we were given benches facing the church with speakers set up outside so we could follow the Mass. Bear, Goobers and I found a spot that was tad cooler in the shade. We watched at least 30 teen age Boy Scouts act so beautifully as they all prayed in honor of their friend.

After Mass the coffin was placed on a hand cart and wheeled to the cemetery. All the guest followed. I was so reminded of the funeral parades that were prevalent in older times. I just wanted to say thank you. I thank the family for sharing their son with us, I thank his friends for sharing their memories, I thank the priest for bringing Christ into this celebration of life, and I thank all the others present for sharing that taste of the the communion of heaven with me this morning.

Mass ended with this:

May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. AMEN!