Cruinniu a big success

"That's probably all you'll remember of this sermon," Bishop Eamonn Walsh quipped as the wind whipped away his scarlet skull cap. The incident also caused him to lose his train of thought. "And maybe you'll remember that, too," he added ruefully.



Actually, if only those two things were remembered, his sermon would be a success. Because those comments and what he actually said in his homily showed him as the man he is, a bishop who seems suited to our time.

In one way the whole event over which he presided was a triumph of faith, in another a success of community.

If truth be told, nobody was really sure how the Cruinniu Chriost event would work out. I'm old enough to remember how the Corpus Christi Procession would bring out the whole parish, but there were less other distractions then. And probably a fair bit more belief.

But around 400 people turned out for the parish Gathering organised by the Parish Pastoral Council. There was a symbolism in the format, with groups from various areas of Kilcullen Parish converging on the town square, each following a piper and a cross. Other groups went directly there, representing schools, clubs and parish organisations.



Maybe the rendition of 'When the Saints Go Marching In' by the piper leading the contingent from the north end of town wasn't actually what the organisers had in mind, but nobody seemed to care.

When all the contingents had arrived, Fr Michael Murphy PP and Bishop Eamonn led the parade up the town and around to Scoil Bhride, where an open air mass site had been set up.

There were chairs if you wanted to sit, benches up front for the First Communion youngsters and the scouts. And several families had brought rugs for the picnic afterwards. It didn't seem out of place that they sat on them for the mass.



Everybody had a part in the afternoon. The recent First Communicants sang, as did the Family Mass Group and Philomena Breslin. The pupils of the three National Schools presented their school crests at the Offertory, and CPC provided a school uniform jumper. The Offertory was also an opportunity to delve into history, with the display of the trowel used by Cardinal Cullen to lay the foundation stone of the parish church in August 1869, and a cast of the Old Kilcullen round tower which was later presented to Bishop Eamonn as a memento of the occasion.

In the course of the mass, Scoil Bhride principal Maurice O'Mahoney remarked on the contribution to the event from the schoolchildren. "We treasure our young people," he said. "They are the face of the future of the parish of Kilcullen."

The weather was a mix of sunny spells and cloud, with a wanton breeze that probably was to cause some severe cases of windburn before the day ended.

But it was a good day. As Fr Murphy said before ending the mass, if it had helped to show the love of God for the people of His church, and had brought people out to meet their neighbours, and also had made people more aware of their potential for care for one and all, Chruinniu Chriost 'will have been worthwhile'.

He thanked all who had taken part and who had encouraged each other to take part in what was a unique event'.

Thing is, maybe it shouldn't remain unique. An annual event would be good. And comparing it to the formality of the old Corpus Christi processions, what was produced this weekend seems right in place with what all parishes need today and for a number of tomorrows.

In pictures, here's what it was like.

Brian Byrne.