On Sunday 6 October, we celebrated 60 years of our Parish with Concelebrated Mass. Bishop John Fleming was the Chief Celebrant with Canon Des McAuliffe, Fr. Tom Ryan, Canon John Daly, Fr. Leo McDonell, Fr. Tom Ryan, Fr. Adrian Egan C.S.S.R., Fr. Leonard Moloney S.J., Fr. Jim Maher S.J. and Canon Donal McNamara.
This was the culmination of a Novena of Celebration, which reflected on how blessed we are as members of the parish of Our Lady of the Rosary. The Novena was inclusive of all aspects of our Parish, including pupils from both the Primary and Secondary schools and a service to include St. Munchin’s Maternity Hospital. Ceremonies were held to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation, the sacrament of the sick, the sacrament of marriage and our families.
All parishioners were presented with a souvenir Bookmark and Mass Booklet. The ceremony began with a procession to the altar led by 3 students from Ard Scoil Rís. Sr. Mary Bridget gave the introduction saying that many of the people present had been baptised, received their First Communion, made their Confirmation and had got married in OLR and had also celebrated the lives of their loved ones at funerals.
Bishop John’s homily recalled the parish in the past and what parish means today and where the parish may be in the future.
The ceremony was enhanced by the beautiful singing of Voices of Limerick choir with conductor and organist Colette Davis, soloist Caitríona Stack and violinist Karen Franklin, who played a haunting rendition of An Chualann at the Offertory of the Mass.
After Mass everyone adjourned to the Halla in JFK for a little celebration where a Pull-Up exhibition of the history of the church, its artefacts and many photos of parish life down the years was displayed. This Pull Up exhibition will be on display in the church. It was a very sociable occasion.
Our thanks go to Sr. Mary Bridget who organised the Liturgy for the Novena of Celebrations and especially the Diamond Jubilee Mass, which was inclusive of all generations in our Parish. Thank you to the Parish Council, who have worked tirelessly over the past number of months to make the Celebrations a success. Thank you to all our parishioners who volunteered their time to distribute the up to date information bulletin to all houses. Thank you to those who helped with the celebration in the Halla in JFK. Thank you to all those who prepared the church and arranged the flowers. Thank you to all those who made photos available for the exhibition. Unfortunately, not all photos could be displayed but we hope to include them on the Parish Website. Thank you to those who distributed the Mass booklets and Bookmarks. Please take Bookmarks home for your families, we will keep them stocked up during the year.