Two dates matter more than any other in Irish remembrance: the month's memory Mass, roughly four to six weeks after the funeral, and the first anniversary. Both are common reasons to order memorial cards, and both need slightly different wording from a card printed for the funeral itself.
What the month’s memory is
The month's memory — also called the month's mind or month's memory Mass — is a Mass offered roughly a month after the death. In practice it lands anywhere between four and six weeks, depending on the parish and the Mass schedule.
It is often the first gathering where the family is not in shock, and many people who could not travel to the funeral come to it instead. That is exactly why cards are so often given out at it.
Why cards are given then rather than at the funeral
By the month's memory the family knows who called, who sent a Mass card, who sent flowers and who travelled. The list is real rather than guessed, so the quantity is right.
There is also time to find the photograph everyone agrees on, and to choose a verse without doing it at the kitchen table the night before a funeral.
- The sympathy list is complete, so the quantity is accurate.
- There is time to restore or crop the photograph properly.
- The verse can be chosen calmly rather than in a rush.
- Cards can be handed out after the Mass, or posted with the thank you cards.
Wording for a month’s memory card
The card still carries the heading, name, home place and dates, but a line naming the occasion is added so the card reads correctly to whoever receives it.
Common lines include “Month's Memory”, “In Loving Memory — Month's Memory Mass, Saturday 18th April at 7pm”, or simply the date of the Mass under the dates.
Wording for an anniversary card
Anniversary wording is where families most often get stuck, because the card is no longer announcing a death — it is marking a year, or five, or twenty. The tone shifts from information to remembrance.
Useful lines: “In Loving Memory on your First Anniversary”, “Treasured Memories of our dear Mother on her First Anniversary”, “Always remembered — 3rd Anniversary”, or “Whose anniversary occurs at this time”.
| Occasion | Typical line | Tone |
|---|---|---|
| Funeral | Died 14th March 2026, aged 78 years | Informative |
| Month’s memory | Month’s Memory Mass, Saturday 18th April | Invitation and keepsake |
| First anniversary | In Loving Memory on your First Anniversary | Remembrance |
| Later anniversary | Always remembered — 10th Anniversary | Quiet remembrance |
Which verses suit an anniversary
Anniversary cards read better with verses about ongoing memory rather than loss — “We little knew that morning” suits a funeral card; “Time slips by and life goes on, but from our hearts you're never gone” suits an anniversary.
Every verse in our library has an ID. Quote the ID when you order and we set it exactly as it appears.
How many to order
Anniversary quantities are usually smaller than funeral-time quantities, because the audience narrows to family, close friends and neighbours rather than everyone who attended.
Fifty to one hundred covers most anniversary orders. If the original cards were well received, families often reorder the same design with a new anniversary line, which keeps the set consistent on people's mantelpieces.
When to order so it arrives in time
We print and post within two to three business days once the artwork is approved, and delivery within Ireland takes another two to three business days. Allow two to three weeks before the Mass and there is comfortable room for a proof and a change of mind.
If the anniversary is close, ring us. We can often move quickly, and free collection from our Gorey shop removes the postage days entirely.
Reordering an older design
If we printed the original cards we can usually reset the same layout with a new anniversary line, so a second or third anniversary card matches the first. If the cards came from somewhere else, send us a photograph of one and we will rebuild it closely.
Photographs are held on file for repeat orders, so you do not need to go hunting for the original again.
Frequently asked questions
- How long after a funeral is the month’s memory Mass?
- Usually four to six weeks, depending on the parish Mass schedule. It is often the first gathering where people who could not attend the funeral come along.
- What is the difference between a month’s mind and a month’s memory?
- They are two names for the same thing — a Mass offered about a month after the death. Both terms are used across Ireland.
- What wording goes on a first anniversary card?
- Keep the name, home place and dates, and add a line such as “In Loving Memory on your First Anniversary” or “Whose anniversary occurs at this time”.
- How soon should I order anniversary cards?
- Allow two to three weeks before the Mass. We print within two to three business days of approval, and Irish delivery takes a further two to three business days.
Sources and further reading
Need help with a memorial card?
Design and VAT are included, and we will email or WhatsApp a proof before anything is printed.
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