Just before Christmas we received a simple, impressive letter from a school principal who wishes to remain anonymous. The following are her own words.

A sixteen year old Transition Year student from our school died in mid June as the result of a road traffic accident. The state examinations were in full swing at the time and most of the students were gone on holiday.

As soon as the news was made public, several members of staff visited the family home. They continued to call over the succeeding days. The process which followed took place with the full co-operation and knowledge of the family.

During the days of the funeral rites the students provided Guards of Honour, the music and singing for the Eucharist and shouldered the coffin to the graveside, about a mile away from the church.

His classmates and special friends within and   outside the school were given special tasks. They read the lessons at Mass and the Prayers of the Faithful.They carried the gifts to the altar and the bouquets and wreaths in the final procession. The Principal and available teachers co-ordinated all of the school's participation.

The annual School Mass provided theopportunity for the family to be invited to attend. During the Mass they were presented with the Book which the students had now named The Book of Memories. The Prayers of the Faithful and the Procession of Gifts were amalgamated into one memorial service.Each of the students had written a small prayer.

All of these had been collected and were carried to the altar in baskets. The Book of Memories was taken from the altar by a friend of the deceased and presented to his mother. Aspecial reflection/prayer with appropriate music accompanied this part of the mass.

The entire ceremony was moving and meaningful. All the students had been well prepared during the two weeks before the mass. The death of their colleague was discussed openlyin the Religion and Pastoral Care classes as part of the preparation for the ceremony.

This way of coping long-term with a sudden, accidental death was appropriate and brought the grievinng process to another stage for many of our students.