The Healing Journey

February 10, 2025

“Life is so much bigger than we know. Death is not the end.”

It was a busy time for Father Norm. A really busy time. He had ten funerals in two weeks and hadn’t had a day off in a while. As much as he needed it, he knew that it was more important to be there with grieving families from his parish, along with a few who weren’t from the parish.

“This is one of the most important things you can do as a priest,” he said. “It also gives you a chance to meet people where they’re at.” And doing that can reintroduce them to Jesus and his healing graces, in addition to accompanying a grieving family suffering one of life’s greatest tragedies, the loss of a loved one.

For many of the people who come to a funeral Mass, it’s often the first time they’ve been to church in a long time … or ever. They’re there to celebrate the life of a person they knew and loved and momentarily realize they, too, will walk the same path someday, perhaps sooner than they expect.

Even though at every Mass, Father has to tell them when to stand, sit and kneel, the learning experience is important, and he is as welcoming as he can be in their time of grief. He understands because he, too, had his own share of losses in his life.

One of the funeral Masses he celebrated was for a parishioner in his 90s, who came to church every day and always made himself available as an altar server at funeral Masses. Father had done his research and was well aware of everything Jack did for others and mentioned them in his homily: His help for unwed mothers, his care for other seniors, his professional achievements, and especially his role as a loving husband and father, who cared for his ailing wife and three children.

Being there and offering consolation was a greater treasure for the priest than any day off.
©Joseph Pisani

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