Poles boost Mass numbers for Lent

IRELAND’S burgeoning eastern European population is helping to maintain the tradition of Lent as a time of increased prayer and attendance at religious services.

While attendance at Mass among “native” Irish Catholics has been through a steady decline in recent years, the devout arrivals from Poland have bolstered the numbers and that is set to continue during the upcoming Lenten season, starting on Wednesday.

One city centre church in Cork, located in the heart of a thriving Polish community, is laying on extra Masses this Lent.