Clonskeagh Parish RCN:20016166

A Few Words from Fr Joe…………………

Last weekend brought the 40 th anniversary celebrations to a close with two masses in my home parish of Lower Mourne. Even though our family home was sold in 1991, after both my parents died, and I haven’t lived there for 35 years, the place where I grew up, I continue to call home. In our parish, you will find St Mary’s church at Glassdrumman, about a mile and a half from the village of Annalong, Co Down. In 1964, wearing a shiny new school satchel, with that unique leather smell, on my back I arrived at the two-roomed parish school behind the church. That first day at school launches our life outside of the home, makes a connection with other children, with ‘The Master’, Mr Doran, and the Parish Priest, Canon Murphy. From this beginning, my lifelong love of learning began. In that parish church, we first learnt to pray and sing, and enjoy the rhythm of Sunday Mass with the community. It was joyful to meet many parishioners who remembered my ordination, both the leaders of the
choir told me they sang on that day when they were girls. My dad’s dental nurse, Sheila, now a beautiful greyhaired grandmother, gave me the biggest hug. There was a lovely sense of celebration and sharing of memories.
At the other end of the parish is St Joseph’s Church, were we had the ordination celebration. It is the bigger of the two churches and in my youth the young curate lived beside the church. I was blessed to be mentored and supported by Fr Tony Curran, to have a strong youth participation in the parish, a great choir and active community. On Sunday morning, they pulled out all the stops, gathering in great numbers for another very enriching Mass and then reception at the parish hall. Two men in their mid 50’s asked to carry the offertory gifts as they had served at the ordination and never forgotten the experience. I felt such gratitude to my parents who provided us with a blissful childhood in this rural community, to the parishioners who were and continue to be
my first faith community. To the many priests through the years who led us into the Gospel week by week and of course to God who dwells in heart of every local church. Thanks again for all the memories created in these recent weeks, bless you all.