Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle

Requiem Mass

Panoramic view of the Requiem Mass in the Cathedral

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On Tuesday 11th March, the Requiem for Bishop Kevin Dunn was celebrated in St Mary's Cathedral. The Principal Celebrant was the Most Reverend Patrick Kelly Archbishop of Liverpool. He was joined by 32 Bishops, Archbishops, Cardinals and the Apostolic Nuncio, and 245 priests and deacons from Hexham and Newcastle diocese, Birmingham Diocese, and other dioceses.

Also present were Civic Leaders and representatives, MPs and representatives from other faith traditions. Ecumenical representatives included the Bishop of Durham and the Bishop of Newcastle, and representatives from many Christian Churches in the diocese.

 

After the entrance procession and opening hymn Archbishop Kelly introduced the funeral mass and welcomed the congregation.

 

The first reading was taken from the Prophet Isaiah: "The Lord has anointed me to bring the Good News to the poor, and to comfort all those who mourn."

The second reading was taken from St Paul's letter to the Romans: "Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ."

The Gospel was from St John: "Unbind him, let him go free," in which Jesus brings Lazarus to life out of the tomb.

 

In his homily Archbishop Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham Diocese, said that in Birmingham Diocese they had just celebrated the Feast of St Chad, and he recalled how this seventh century saint had been formed here in Holy Island in the school of evangelisation headed by Aidan.

He referred to the First Reading from Isaiah and said that it is wonderful to think that this Spirit of the Lord has been given in full measure so that the gospel of peace can be proclaimed. He added:

 

"Isaiah also tells us that the Spirit of the Lord, which was so alive in Bishop Kevin, will also replace the ashes of our mourning with a garland and oil of gladness. Today we come to pray for the soul of this comparatively young and yet much loved bishop. The ashes of our grief are real and we feel the despondency of which Isaiah speaks yet we come in prayer ready to offer to each other consolation and support and intent above all else in commending Kevin to his Merciful Father in heaven. "

 

 

At the end of Mass Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, paid tribute to Bishop Kevin saying: " You've lost a wonderful Bishop but whose memory will live on. I can say too, that we, as Bishops, miss a friend - one whose wisdom, counsel and communion we will all remember." He finished with the words: "Today is a day of sorrow but also a day of praise to God for all his goodness, and especially for giving us, for these years, a disciple of Jesus, a priest, a Bishop, a teacher, a sanctifier, and perhaps, above all for you in this Diocese, a Good Shepherd."

 

At the end of Mass the coffin was sprinkled with holy water to remind us that in Baptism we die with Christ and incense used to recall that each one of us is a Temple of the Holy Spirit.

 

The coffin was carried in procession to the Cathedral Crypt where more prayers were offered and the coffin was lowered into the crypt.

 

The crypt, built in 1844 and sealed in 1848, was discovered in the Cathedral garden in 2003 during major redevelopment of the Cathedral site. Bishop Riddell and Fr William Fletcher who died in the great cholera epidemic of 1847-1848, are buried there.

At the end of Mass the coffin is carried into the Cathedral crypt.