09.11.2015
War Memorials Rededicated in St Audoen’s and St Catherine’s Churches
War memorials from two Dublin churches which closed in the 1950s were rededicated during Services of Remembrance yesterday (Sunday November 8). The war memorial from St Matthias’ Church, which was on Adelaide Road, has been restored and relocated to St Audoen’s Church, Cornmarket, while the memorial from St Peter’s Church, Aungier Street, has been reassembled and placed in St Catherine and St James’s Church on Donore Avenue.
The memorials detail the names of those from each parish who died in the First World War. Archbishop Michael Jackson rededicated both of them. St Peter’s Church closed in 1950 and St Matthias’ Church closed in 1956.
In St Audoen’s Archbishop Jackson referred to the Gospel [Mark 12: 38–44] which tells of the Widow’s Mite saying that even the smallest contribution, truly offered, makes a difference. He said transferring the memorial offered fresh hope to those whose family members are named on it that their contribution and what they did for justice and peace could be remembered.
Later in the morning in St Catherine’s and St James’ Church, the Archbishop recalled those who went to war and never returned and spoke of their willingness to serve. He said, “Time after time, war after war, we hope and pledge that war will not return but it does and we feel part of a never ending cycle”. But he said the reading [Hebrews 9: 24–28] speaks of a sacrifice which happens once to remove sin. “That combination of love and shepherding is not shattered but what is shattered is sin itself,” he said.
The service in St Catherine’s was attended by Monsignor Dan O’Connell who preached and Fr Cormac McNamara SM, Donore Avenue Parish Priest and Fr Fergal MacDonagh, Parish Priest in Dolphin’s Barn. Representatives of 35th Dublin Donore Avenue St Teresa’s Scout Group were also present.
In his sermon, Monsignor O’Connell remembered the brave Irish men and women who gave their lives for freedom in the First World War. But he also spoke of those who were left behind, the brave women who saw their men go off to war and kept things going at home, who lost their husbands, sons, brothers, fathers. “They were our protectors, they worked, lived, raised children alone in the early years of our State. They need to be remembered in our prayers also,” he stated.
He added that while we remembered those who died we must also pray that there will be no more war. “Each one of us brings the Gospel by the way we lie our lives and fight for peace and justice in our own way. Today we are asked to be witnesses of Christ, the Prince of Peace. We in Ireland are going to face the challenge soon of welcoming people from war torn parts of the world. Perhaps, like the Widow’s Mite, we can do something in our own small way to help them. We are being called to open our hearts and our doors to the victims of war,” he said.
Photo captions:
Top – Clergy at the rededication of the war memorial in St Catherine’s and St James’.
Bottom – Clergy and congregation at the rededication of the war memorial in St Audoen’s. (Photo: Patrick Hugh Lynch)
More photos on the Dublin and Glendalough Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DublinandGlendalough/