Bi-centenary of
St. Patrick’s Church, Whitechurch
Sunday 11th December 2022
My friends,
“Place making” is a phrase commonly used by architects and urban planners. By “place making” they mean designing developments of housing, shops, schools, and places of recreation it should be done in a way that people can develop a sense of community in the place where they live. In order to enable that kind of living, urban planners talk about the 15-minute rule/measure – that in new developments people should be within 15 minutes of the services that they and their families need. For that reason, new developments need a centre round which people can gather to meet, to socialise, to be educated to share faith and prayer.
To-day Gaudete Sunday is a fitting day on which to mark and celebrate the holy ground where for two centuries now this community of faith has gathered to celebrate in times of joy and sorrow their faith and trust in God.
Thanks to the work of the historian, John Mulcahy, two of whose pieces I have read, I have a sense of the depth of the history of faith in this and surrounding parishes. I got a sense particularly of the vigour of faith and identity that emerged after the Penal period and preceded Catholic Emancipation in 1829. The efforts of many priests are acknowledged but none more so than Fr. Matthew Horgan (1775-1849) who was appointed parish priest in 1817 and served here ‘till his death in 1849. Fr. Matt was something of an architect in his own right and because of his interest in the Round Tower of the early Irish (monastic) Church we have the unique legacy of the round towers both here in Whitechurch and Waterloo. Fr. Matt was in no doubt that the essential role of the Round Tower was a belfry, to call people to prayer rather than as a fortress or defence. The round tower here in Whitechurch was completed in 1833 at the cost of £18.10 shillings.
The Round Tower and these walls have been at the centre of the “place making” of Whitechurch for two centuries throughout which the families here gathered faithfully to give thanks for their blessing and sought the Lord’s pardon in their sin and failure, asking always the Lord’s grace and guidance in life.
To-day, we celebrate a Jubilee of 200 years. In the Bible and in the life of the Church there is a noble tradition of the Jubilee Year (Holy Year) as a year every 25 years that’s set aside – a year of favour for healing and reconciliation. A time when debts are forgiven, prisoners go free, burdens of hate and bitterness are lifted so that in the spirit of God’s mercy we show mercy, experience mercy as a path to freedom and new hope.
Life, we know, is short. Too many go to their graves with hurts and wounds that could have been healed. Open your hearts to this possibility in your life should you carry too heavy a burden of hurt, bitterness even hatred. There are those among you who can be instruments of that reconciliation for another. Be not afraid to take a risk for reconciliation.
My friends, reading the pages of our history makes clear the many hardships that those who have gone before us in life and in faith. Their legacy of spiritual roots and fortitude is immense. It forged a resilient, noble and generous people and as inheritors and descendants we need to treasure the sense of the natural and humble we’ve been gifted with. We risk taking it for granted in our time of prosperity and so-called progress.
While we to-day look back in appreciation and gratitude we equally look forward in hope. To-day the Sunday of Joy is filled with encouragement for one another
Strengthen all weary hands
Steady all trembling knees
And say to the faint hearts
Courage do not be afraid
These days of war, conflict, climate issues create much uncertainty and anxiety. The promise of Lord Jesus to be with us all days was the hope of those who have gone before us. It can be ours too if we have faith and remain humble before God.
Times are much better now than they used to be. We are greatly blessed. But we do not live on bread alone. To-day as we celebrate these 200 years of faith and life in Whitechurch we hear the call to a new generation in their own way cherish the faith of your mothers and fathers. Let not our prosperity and education make us arrogant and superior in spirit. The future of faith and prayer on this holy ground of our forefathers and mothers is now in our/your hands. The choice we make individually, as a family, as a community will determine whether the new place that Whitechurch will be for many families is one where faith in Christ Jesus is exercised and respected.
Whereby in the vision of Isaiah (1st Reading)
“the eyes of the blind will be opened
the ears of the deaf unsealed
the lame shall leap like a deer
and the tongues of the dumb sing for joy”
Fr. Matt who laboured so faithfully here along with all the priests who ministered we remember with gratitude.
May the Lord who began this good work among you continue to bless you and guide you whenever you gather in his name and in his due time bring it to completion.
