Sunday Newsletter
Masses Today
6.30: Susan Coyne, Whitehall, (Anniv).11.00: Ellen Reynolds, (Anniv).
6.30: Michael & Bridget Hanley and son Padraig, (Anniv).
- Masses for next weekend, February 26th: Vigil: Edward Egan; 11.00: Jimmy Lennon; 6.30: John Tierney.
- The collection last Sunday was €863.00.
- Remember this day a young man named Shane Corrigan, Moycullen. Shane worked on the restoration of the Augustinian Church with the Plastering Sub-Contractor from September until his tragic death in early December.
- Pray for the late Marion Folan, Whitestrand Park, whose funeral Mass was celebrated in this church on Thursday last. She is survived by her mother Nancy and two children. May she rest in peace.
AS I WAS SAYING.....
This is a day for great rejoicing. First of all, we welcome Martin Drennan among us on his first visit as our new Bishop. We hope this will be the first of many. We welcome John Hennebry, representing Gerry Horan, O.S.A, Provincial of the Irish Province. Gerry had a previous engagement abroad and simply could not be with us. We welcome also our Augustinian brothers, particularly those who served in Galway down the years. The Church you left some years ago is a very different Church to the one you entered this morning. We hope you found it a more welcoming church; you certainly found it a more open Church; you found a brighter church, a church with a joyful optimistic hue to it, a church that is designed for a celebrating community.
The most dramatic change is, without doubt, the antiphonal plan, where the priest and the people are joined together at the ambo and the altar. The plan is not at all new, having served the monasteries and seminaries down the centuries. What is new however is that the celebrant's chair, the ambo, and the altar are in the midst of the people, with the people facing each other either side of the wide axis running down the centre. This has perhaps been the most controversial aspect of the restoration. But it is also very obviously a central aspect of the renewal; and it was a deliberate, theologically informed architectural choice. It is not something one would fail to notice!
Some have complained of 'being distracted' by the people across from them. The notion of being 'distracted' from God by human beings is fraught with theological difficulties! If we pursue this line of reasoning, we would surely undermine a strong understanding of the Incarnation. In this antiphonal layout, the people across from ourselves represent a challenge rather than a distraction! And that challenge is to accept that, because of the Incarnation, those across from me are my brothers and sisters. Because, if I can't find God in them, I most surely will look in vain towards the tabernacle for him. But console yourself with the certain knowledge that the people directly across from you are engaged in an even greater struggle!
With the rededication of the 'new' Augustinian today we have reached the culmination of at least five years of hard work: meetings, days of collective reflection, 'endless' workshops, and seemingly interminable weekly gatherings of the Project Team. (What will we do with ourselves on a Monday night now?)
In deference to tradition, we will use two beautiful, ancient Augustinian chalices to celebrate our Rededication Mass. The small chalice was commissioned by the Augustinians of Banada in 1641. (The Galway Augustinian's were founded from Banada, Co. Sligo in 1500.) This little chalice can actually be dismantled into three separate pieces: the cup, the stem and the base. The more elaborate Francis Comyn or Galway chalice was commissioned for the Galway Augustinian's in 1721 when the friars lived and worshipped just down the street from here, where the Taibhdhearc theatre now stands. The baptismal font you walked by as you entered the Church this morning also began life in that little Church, probably around the same time, circa 1721.
So let it not be said that the present generation of Augustinians are insensitive to tradition, or worse still, ignorant of it! So, enjoy the day, and be proud of what you have achieved. It was truly a common enterprise.
-Dick Lyng
Items of Interest
- REDEDICATION OF CHURCH: Thanks to all involved in the preparations for this day. It is always risky to name names (our libel laws are the most restrictive in the EU). But on a day such as this, when a great number of people have been involved, the naming of names would not just be risky; it would amount to nothing short of sheer stupidity! So a general anaemic 'Thank You' to the whole lot of you, including those whose names should never even be whispered in a public place!
- 'CHILDREN FIRST': This programme, lasting for a full day, will be presented by a recognised expert in the field on Saturday, March 25th, beginning at 9.30am. The programme caters for 16 people; 10 places have already been filled. It is the policy of the Augustinians that anyone associated with our churches must take this course. The course is compulsory even for those who are not working directly with children. But children will always be involved in the life of the Church. Hence anyone working with us in either a paid or voluntary capacity must familiarise themselves with 'best practice' in this area. Gender balance in child protection is also a serious issue. And if we as a parish are to take this seriously too (and it does now appear that we have no choice in the matter), some males must come forward and offer their services in this area.
- PRIORY TODAY: Some refreshments in the Priory after the Mass today. Feel free to wander in and have a look at the restored dining room and table. It looks rally well. When coming into the Priory, please enter by the new door and garden, rather than through the door at the Mother of Good Counsel shrine.
- CHILDREN'S LITURGY TODAY: We will hold the Children's Liturgy today as usual. However, because of the anticipated large crowds, it is probably best that the kids return to the Liturgy Room immediately after presenting their work at the offertory of the Mass.
- LENTEN TALKS: We discussed these talks at our
Steering Committee meeting during the week. We
considered a variety of topics, including racism,
integration of non-nationals,
various Augustinian themes, and so
on. But we eventually decided to
revisit the seven Sacraments, to
explore their history and the make
some effort to re-appropriate their
significance for ourselves and for
our families. The Rev'd Patrick
Towers will operate as a copresenter,
providing us with the
Anglican perspective. Each session
will last for an hour and thirty
minutes. It will be structured as follows:
- A brief essay of no more than 200 words will be read individually by those attending;
- This will be followed by a brief talk of not more than ten minutes.
- Five minutes reflection;
- We will break into small groups of not more than five for animated discussion!
- We will return to the large group where questions will be taken, all difficulties addressed and all problems solved! The principal speaker will wrap up the session with a lasting not more than five minutes.
- PARISH WORKSHOP: Once again, a little reminder of our Parish Council Workshop planned for Esker on the weekend of March 1st - April 2nd Friday night 'till Sunday, dinner). This is a residential weekend intended for those already involved through one of our three committees. And really, if you are going to attend you would need to be there for at least 90 percent of the weekend. There is little point in dipping' in and out of sessions such as this. Incidentally, the parish will 'pick up the tab'.
The Augustinian Church
The design of the Augustinian Church in Middle Street was described as "Early English". It consists of nave, aisles, chancel and side chapels. The aisles are separated from the nave by an arcade of seven arches of equilateral form, with octagon piers of highly polished marble, surmounted with moulded capitals of the same material, which form a novel and striking feature in the building. The chancel is lighted by a traceried window in three bays, the nave by a triple lancet in front, and clerestory, single lights. It is open in front, and supported by four pillars of green veined marble, with capitols of Carrara marble. The slab is of pure Carrara marble, 9 feet 6 inches in length by 4 feet wide. The steps and landing are of highly polished Galway marble. The roof consists of framed principals of open timber. Inside the grand entrance to the church is placed a holy water font of black marble, designed in the Iouie order and executed by a Galway artist, Mr. Clare. It is probably one of the most splendid in any church in the United Kingdom.
This description appeared in 'The Dublin Builder' of September 1st, 1859, just a few weeks after the church was dedicated. The 'Mr. Clare' artist, referred to had a stone-works in Forster Street. The foundation stone of the church was laid by James Hardiman, the historian. In 1924, the new altar was reconstructed by Walter O'Flaherty, and a beautiful new marble altar rail, with brass gates was presented to the church by Miss Davenport. Our photograph today was originally taken about one hundred years ago, about the time a new organ was installed.
Today, the church interior looks very different to our photograph. The stained glass windows behind the altar have been replaced by an image of the Resurrection by Dublin artist, George Walsh. The walls and pillars no longer carry all that decoration. Whatever about the changes, it is still a building with a wonderful spiritual atmosphere, a welcoming church, especially on Sunday mornings when the choir get going.
(The above item appeared in the Galway Advertiser to mark the inauguration of our Summer Festival some eight years ago. Tom Kenny wrote it and it is available on the Kenny website as is a photograph of the Church taken in 1905. Even by that date the pillars had already been plastered).