Beara Peninsula Mourns Missing Fishermen

On Saturday last, 6th January, the Sacred Heart Church was packed to capacity inside and the congregation swelled down the steps outside to join with the families of the three remaining fishermen of the MFV 'St. Gervase' whose bodies were never recovered in a Concelebrated Memorial Mass.  Photographs of Gary Kane, Skipper, crew Kieran Harrington and Frenchman Jacques Biger, (who had wed Gillian Murphy from Castletownbere in May of last year), were placed on the altar.  Eight Priests and Lay Reader Maud Levis concelebrated the Mass with Fr. Donal O'Connor. Bishop Bill Murphy also presided over the Mass.
Fr. Donal O'Connor welcomed everyone and expressed the profound sympathy of the parish to the spouses, families and friends of Gary, Kieran and Jacque.  He stated that the tragedy had led to an air of gloom over the whole area and the fact that it happened in the weeks coming up to Christmas made the loss even harder to bear.  He asked that we remember Timothy Angland also in our prayers.  His body was recovered the day after the tragedy which occurred on November 23rd last and sympathy was extended to his father who was in attendance.  He welcomed the family and friends of Jacque Biger from France who he said never expected to have to return so soon and in such awful circumstances. He and Gillian were so much in love and so good for each other, he added.  Kieran, son of Sheila & Michael Harrington, still a teenager, had chosen the sea and fishing as his career, had his whole life snatched from him.  Gary Kane, married to Alexandra, father to 2 year old Connell, was looking forward to the birth of his second child later on this year.  The grief and pain of each family is so intense and the fact that their bodies have never been recovered, makes it all so hard to comprehend.  Fr. Donal hoped that this Memorial Mass would start the healing process for them.  
Jacques Biger's tearful sister prayed in French during the Prayers of the Faithful and said that Jacque loved Ireland.  Also remembered were the efforts of the Naval Service, their divers, RNLI Crews, members of the Irish Coastguard, local trawlers, the I.M.E.S. and everyone who assisted in the search following the accident.  
During the Offertory, personal belongings of each of the fishermen were carried by their families to the altar which included the Breton Flag, a bracelet belonging to Kieran and net mending needles.
The Choir opened the Mass, with 'The Lord is My Shepherd' and soloist, Sineád O'Driscoll sang 'Amazing Grace' during the Communion as well as other hymns during the Mass.
Before the final prayer, Bishop Bill Murphy spoke of the mystery of life and that how he or anybody else did not have the answer as to why such a horrific tragedy should happen.  He spoke of the immense grief that each family were experiencing and prayed that the healing process would commence and ease the pain somewhat.  He expressed the sympathy of the whole Diocese to the families and stated that it had touched the hearts of everyone.
Fr. Donal O'Connor said the final prayers and the congregation then paid their respect to the families.

Earlier that afternoon, at a private ceremony, the names of their loved ones were added to a scroll that commemorates all those from the port that died at sea, at the BIM Centre on the Pier.

May God have Mercy on Their Souls and we hope that the pain and grief being experienced by their families be eased.  May They Rest in Peace.