Fr. Mossie Brick, P.P. Castleisland raising the monstrance during the Corpus Christi Procession in the Nuns’ Garden on Saturday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy.
It is with the safety of all as a central focus that the Corpus Christi Procession has now taken to the inspiring Nuns’ Garden as its annual go to venue.
Going away back in its history, the procession took in the whole town through its arterial Main Street – up Church Street, down around the Back-of-the-Forge and around the Market Cross and off up Main Street to the library and turn and back to its base on Church Street.
More recently it has visited local private and public estates and its message has always been the same.
Girls Paving with Petals – Boys Jousting
The communicants of the particular year participated with the girls paving the path of the Eucharist with rose petals and the boys getting in the odd bit of jousting with the long poles of the processional crosses.
There couldn’t be any heavy engagement with these crosses as the sound of the clash reverberated through the streets and over the silence of the solemn proceeding.
Then you could be pounced upon by a procession orderly, a teacher or, God forbid, a parent.
A Broken Pole
I remember an occasion when one of the poles was broken in a skirmish that escaped all prying eyes and the culprit was never caught and there wasn’t a word in The Kerryman the following Saturday.
The processional crosses have long been put away now and many of the boys, good and bold,who carried them in those days have gone to that great procession above. I’m sure the lad, whose skirmishing led to the breaking of the long pole, is there with them; there are greater sins in the world but we didn’t know that then.
Congregation Aware of History in the Making
There was an air of history in the making and of something less than celebration at Saturday evening’s Procession in the Nuns’ Garden.
Fr. Brick carried the monstrance and was accompanied and the canopy carried on the rounds of the garden by: Sean Walsh, Ned O’Callaghan, John Breen and Con Horan.
The procession was led by Holy Communicants and Cordal twins, Emma and Katie O’Sullivan.
Members of the congregation were well aware that it was their beloved P.P. Fr. Mossie Brick’s final Corpus Christi Procession in Castleisland.
Let the Children Play
Fr. Brick continued with his service unhindered as, equally unbothered, many of the children present played on the vast lawns in front of his improvised altar – as only children can and will.
“I’m glad they left them play away. If that’s how they’ll remember the occasion it can only be good,” said Fr. Brick after the ceremony.
But the evening produced even more memories for the young parishioners. After their exertions on the lawn a great big basket of sweets was produced courtesy of the parish and the scrambling joy it brought was unconfined and memorable.
The Maine Valley Post on… Anyone in The Maine Valley Post catchment area who would like to send us news and captioned photographs for inclusion can send them to: jreidy@mainevalleypost.com Queries about advertising and any other matters regarding The Maine Valley Post can also be sent to that address or just ring: 087 23 59 467.