Priests in parishes often come across unusual situations, but in September 2011, I experienced an event that was uniquely distressing and challenging. A 22-year-old woman had died in sudden and unexplained circumstances at a rock festival. Though baptised, neither she nor her family were a visible part of the local parish. When her grandmother had died, the family had requested a traditional Catholic funeral and they found this comforting. Now they wanted the same for their daughter.

Fortunately, the parish funeral team weighed in and helped immeasurably.