12-23-2015

Today was every bit if not more of what I had inticipated for Pauls celebration of life funeral mass at my our home parish this morning. This mass had all of the traditions of a firemans send off including the last call bells that means that his shift here was done.

There were 4 vested priests on the alter and the mass was absolutely beautiful from the music, the eulogy , the readings right on through.

The family shared very special memories of Pauls family life. It was an honor being in the moment with them.

Paul was the Miracle to many because he witnessed in the simplest ways while living, working and during recreation that there is something bigger than self and there is an everlasting component to  living a great life.

This mass covered every aspects of the our lives journeys, the pain of separation that we who are left behind feel and the joy that Paul is now experiencing  being with all who have gone before him including his infant son Steven.

The mass ran over 2 hours and included the distribution of the Holy Eucharist.

The prosession from the church was huge and they were then inviting everyone back to an establishment for lunch . There were arleast 900 people at the funeral. At the end of mass and Pauls departure from the church I looked at my wife and said honey, I don’t have the energy to go to the cemetery or the luncheon. So, we watched the procession leave and we came home.

Like I told my children who were with us, We were there for Paul, Linda and family always, praying with them and their family. If God wanted me there after the mass was done he would have given me the ability to do so. I had already been fed anyway. The mass and Holy Eucharist is what I truly needed today so I am all set 🙂

one of the songs they played outside the church was called  Going home a song that I particularly love.

The final song  sung inside the church was he Irish Blessing. It was a beautiful and a fitting song for Paul.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn9hLK2nmPM

I will miss him most sincerely during my days, I was so honored to be by his side when he most needed me to hold his hand and pray and give him the Holy Eucharist. God gave me that honor and privilege. As, I sat with Paul I quietly thought to myself  that if my time were here I wish that he would be with me too. Then I realized that he would be in a different way. Yet another friend there to greet me.

Rest in peace my friend/ brother Paul worry not,  a lot of people including my family are watching over Linda and your children always…

love,

Danny and family