Castleisland’s Summer Mass Series Concludes in Autumn’s Warm Embrace

Paddy Enright (left) and Jack Regan were among the huge local congregation at the St. John’s Cemetery Mass in Castleisland on Friday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Local men, John O’Sullivan (left) and John Reidy pictured at the Mass at St. John’s Cemetery in Castleisland on Friday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

At the Mass at St. John’s Cemetery in Castleisland on Friday evening were front from left: Róisín, Aisling and Sadhbh O’Donoghue, Kathleen O’Connor, Aidan and Jane Clancy and Michelle Myers. Back from left: Siobhán O’Donoghue, Anne Marie Myers and Mary Clancy. ©Photograph: John Reidy

At the Mass at St. John’s Cemetery in Castleisland on Friday evening were: Kathleen O’Sullivan, Aileen McCarthy, Kate Brady, Catheriona O’Connell, Phylis McCarthy and Jack O’Connell. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Tara Walmsley with her dad Freddie were among the many locals at the Graveyard Mass at St. John’s Cemetery Castleisland on Friday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Jerry and Eileen O’Mahony, Cordal (seated) pictured with Mike Lynch, Castleisland at the St. John’s Cemetery Mass on Friday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

The summer series of graveyard Masses at all ten burial grounds around Castleisland, Cordal and Scartaglen which began at the end of May concluded in the warm embrace of a fine autumn evening on Friday, August 2nd at St. John’s Cemetery in Castleisland.

Maybe because it’s one of the ‘youngest’ of all the burial grounds in the locality and because there are more survivors of those buried there, Friday evening’s huge attendance and its response to PP Fr. Mossie Brick’s call to honour our departed conveyed a deep message of community solidarity.

It had all the signs of a pilgrimage or a special occasion as so many people left the town on foot and College Road was blackened by pedestrians of all ages striding out in common purpose towards Kilbanivane and St. John’s to honour their 8pm invitation.

Dark Days Shared

Groups of people and families knelt, sat or stood at the graves of departed loved ones as Fr. Brick, his attendants and choir, celebrated Mass from the western front of the early 1990s opened cemetery.

Fr. Brick put into perspective the grief and the dark days he has shared with his parishioners here since his appointment to the parish in the summer of 2019.

Possibly inspired by the multitude looking back at him he spoke of the love people showed, by their very presence, for their departed family members and friends who have gone ‘through the trap-door and into the next world.’

Prayers All Inclusive

He also mentioned that the departed of some of those present may not be buried in this particular graveyard but that they’re still included in the prayers and the sentiments of the Mass on this special evening.

He quoted from one of the prayers of St. John Henry Newman (21-2-1801 – 11-8-1890)

May the Lord support us all the day long,
Till the shades lengthen and the evening comes,
and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over,
and our work is done.
Then in his mercy may he give us a safe lodging,
and holy rest, and peace at the last.

It was a grand evening for walking. The many who were able to take the healthy, pedestrian option to the Mass could be forgiven for claiming the last smile as some drivers experienced up to three quarters of an hour of a delay in getting back to town.

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