'He is forever young with God' - Funeral of Waterford schoolboy Matthew James Healy hears

The funeral Mass for Matthew James Healy has been taking place in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Cork. 

Principal Celebrant: Father Christy Fitzgerald, Co-PP, Watergrasshill told the congregation: "On behalf of James and all of Matthew’s family, I welcome you here today and thank you for your presence and prayerful support as we gather to pray and offer the greatest prayer we have, the Eucharist, the Mass.  Eucharist means thanksgiving and we gather today to give thanks for all the lives Matthew touched in his six years".

Fr Fitzgerald is being assisted by Father Liam Power, Parish of Saint Joseph, Saint Benildus and Saint Mary, Diocese of Waterford and Lismore.

Matthew’s father James will also address the congregation.

Mementos presented at the requiem Mass were: Lego cars, jellies, arts and crafts, and Matthew’s cycling helmet which were  brought to the altar by two uncles and two cousins: Bill, Rhys, Colette and John.

The First Reading was read by Matthew's aunt Marita; the Psalm will be sung; the Second Reading will be read by Margie.

At the Offertory Procession, the Bread and Wine will be presented by Rose and Irene: Matthew’s aunts by marriage 

"We gather with a variety of thoughts and emotions, but above all we come together as a community here and from Waterford, and I welcome Father Liam Power, Waterford, who is concelebrating with us; to pray for Matthew and his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, class and teammates, praying that Matthew is at rest in the peace of God’s presence with all our loved ones who have gone before us," Fr Fitzgerald said.

"We pray for you James and all of Matthew’s family, not just today, but for the difficult and sad days ahead, that you, too, will find comfort and hope in God, the source of all life and love," he said. 

In his Homily, Fr Fitzgerald said: "We are where no one wants to be today.  Though springtime beckons, and the daffodils are above ground, Matthew’s death leaves us all encircled by pain, sadness and overwhelming grief.  We seek light to give us hope, to point us in a better direction, to lift some of the burden that grief brings and though for some, faith may be severely challenged and tested at this time, it is to the Lord we look for that light and hope today.

"The story of Jesus and the children is for us a natural story and a lovely relationship.  Today too we gather at the beginning of Lent - on Ash Wednesday.  Lent recalls the journey that Jesus took to Jerusalem, to Calvary and to His death on the Cross.  But it didn’t end there: the light and hope for us comes from Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday, Jesus’ story continues and so does ours. 

"As Christians, we make this journey to Calvary, and beyond, with Jesus.  We look to the coming of Easter and the renewal of our Baptismal promises.  For Matthew those promises, we believe, have been fulfilled  and he now rests in the loving embrace of God Himself.  Matthew was made a child of God when he was baptised here on 17 December 2017.   He was welcomed into God’s loving family.  The promise and hope made to all of us in Baptism is that all our lives’ journeys begin and end in God.  We believe that Matthew rests now in God’s loving arms, he is forever young with God.

"We do what we do best at this time.  As a community we come together to offer support, share our condolences and prayers.  We pray for Matthew’s parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and extended family.  We are very mindful of Matthew’s classmates from senior infants in Faithlegg National School, his teammates in Park Rangers under 7’s.  We journey with you all in faith, in hope and love, and we assure you of our prayers especially this Lent.

"May God’s peace touch your broken hearts, may He surround you in His great love and may Matthew rest in his eternal peace.  Amen," Fr Fitzgerald said.