St Augustine's Church in Cork overflows with emotion for its last-ever Mass
One member of the congregation wipes away a tear during the emotional final Mass at St Augustine’s Church in Cork. The church officially seats 1,200, but one priest estimated the congregation spilling out into Washington Stand the Grand Parade was close to 2,000. Pictures: Chani Anderson
St Augustine’s Church seats 1,200, but with Sunday’s faithful literally out the doors onto Washington St and the Grand Parade for the Augustinian Order’s final Mass in Cork, one priest estimated the congregation was close to 2,000.
In his homily, Fr Paddy O'Reilly, vicar provincial of the Augustinian Order in Ireland, offered some hope, but scant details.
“We do not know clearly what the future will bring, but a future there will be, even for this church building,” he said.
"Negotiations are ongoing, and will take time, and if all goes according to plan, there will no bulldozers moving in here."
Sunday’s Mass closed a chapter of the city’s history dating back more than 750 years, when the Augustinians first founded the Red Abbey in the South Parish, where the ruin of the old medieval belfry tower still stands.
The present church was built in 1942 on the site of a chapel dating back to 1872.
There was barely even standing room on Sunday morning, and bar the odd, blessed breeze from the open doorways, the heat was stifling, with many in the congregation fanning themselves with their missalettes.
Those in attendance were predominantly, but far from exclusively, older, and people sat and kneeled all around the edge of the altar, and up its steps.
Afterward, one dry voice in the sacristy was heard to say: “I never knew there were so many Catholics in Cork”.
Many in the congregation admitted they had not regularly attended Mass there, but wanted to be there one last time out of love for St Augustine’s.
Some recounted childhood memories of going there with relatives now long gone, while others said they had moved to other churches but still loved the old place.
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The Mass was presided over by Bishop Fintan Gavin, and celebrated by Fr Paddy O’Reilly, with Bishop Emeritus John Buckley, Fr Teddy McCarthy, Fr Declan Brennan, and Fr Richie Goode.
It was a poignant occasion for many, with several people fighting back tears.
But it was a moment of joy and good humour too, a celebration of faith and community, and a grateful remembrance of the Augustinians who served Cork over the years and centuries.
No fewer than four choirs sang – the Carrigaline Gospel Choir, the City of Cork Male Voice Choir, the One Voice Choir, and the Augustinian Church Choir.
Strange though it might seem, by the time Communion was being served, the place was rocking. ‘Amazing Grace’ was followed by ‘You Raise Me Up’, and the ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’.
And before you could say “follow that”, the church’s barrel roof was metaphorically raised with a full-throated rendition of ‘De Banks’.
The final blessing was delivered by Bishop Buckley.
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