Who is my neighbour...... St. Patrick's Festival Celebrations.
On March 13th the annual St. Patrick’s Festival Day Mass took place at St. Anne’s, in the heart of the Irish Quarter in Digbeth, Birmingham. The setting up began the day before with the preparation of the Sanctuary draped in green and white decoration and the resident plant of shamrock at the front of the Altar.
As usual the next day-Parade Day, kicked off early with Fr Pat Browne and Parishioners preparing refreshments, ready for the dignitaries to arrive at the Presbytery.
The doorbell started to ring from 9:00am onwards with the arrival of the Lord Mayor, Ray Hassall and Councillor John Clancy amongst others. After a quick chat and the customary ‘cup of tea,’ preparations for the beginning of Mass started.
Just before the start of Mass, the dignitaries sat in their pews at the front of the Church. At 10:00am the entrance hymn music began, (Christ Be Beside Me- St Patrick’s Prayer) and the procession of children carrying shamrock and Altar Servers along with Deacon Dominic Risley, Father Eamon Corduff from Christ the King Parish, Kingstanding and Parish Priest, Monsignor Pat Browne began to make their way down the aisle towards the Altar.
The children presented a pot of shamrock to the Lord Mayor and John Clancy and the significance of the plant and links to Ireland and St. Patrick were explained.
Mass continued with Councillor Clancy and his wife Rachel, reading the Liturgy of the Word and the Prayers of the Faithful being read by teachers from local Catholic secondary school, Holy Trinity. This also included the Hail Mary being read out by Acting Head of the school, Tim Oxley, in Gaelic.
The Offertory, included traditional Irish culture items including a boran being brought up by Parishioner Mark, a camán (a hurley stick) being brought up a traditionally dressed Irish dancer, followed by the bread and wine.
Father Pat delivered his usual inspiring and moving homily, with a mix of teachings from the Gospel and St Patrick and linked to stories from back home in his beloved Ferbane, County Offaly.
The wonderful celebration continued and culminated in the huge congregation processing up the aisle to receive Holy Communion and after the final blessing, belting out an emotional and touching rendition of Hail Glorious St. Patrick, but only after Fr Pat had explained to the Lord Mayor, the reason for the different colourful county tops being worn. The heartfelt singing filled the Church as the Procession made their way off the Altar to continue with the celebrations of the day and look forward to the start of the St. Patrick’s Parade due to start at 12:00pm.
This was a truly wonderful celebration of Mass and the perfect way to start the day with many more festivities to come throughout the day. Lord Mayor, Ray Hassall conveyed his thanks and enjoyment of the Mass as did many more afterwards.
The bus, arranged by the Parade Committee , was waiting to take the usual Parishioners and locals of a ‘certain age,’ on a drive around the parade.
After the parade, the Church was set up for an afternoon of music and song (with some dancing too) which was introduced with children from the local St. Anne’s School Choir singing. Other groups and individuals providing entertainment included, a Keelan family variety, Mary Leonard, and the Slovak Community providing entertainment which continued until early evening, with tea and light refreshment available including home-made soda bread- all served by parishioners.
During the afternoon, the Lord Mayor and other dignitaries including Parade coordinator, Anne Tighe, arrived back to the presbytery in Bradford Street for Sunday lunch. After an enjoyable afternoon ending with cheese and biscuits, coffee and mints, the day of merriment came to an end and still with more celebrations to come on St. Patrick’s Day on Thursday 17th March.
Father Pat Browne would like to express his thanks to all who contributed in any way to making St. Patrick’s Festival/ Parade Day so special at St. Anne’s Church. People visiting appreciated the preparations for the Mass which contributed to making it so special. There were many comments on the opportunity to spend time in the church after the parade to rest awhile, listen to music and song, as well as the nice cup of tea/coffee and refreshments.
Father Pat, along with John McSwiggan and Dawn Richards would also like to thank Anne Tighe for the meal of ‘bacon and cabbage’ provided on March 17th- St. Patrick’s Day, which was again a wonderful night of celebration.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh!
Dawn Richards
As usual the next day-Parade Day, kicked off early with Fr Pat Browne and Parishioners preparing refreshments, ready for the dignitaries to arrive at the Presbytery.
The doorbell started to ring from 9:00am onwards with the arrival of the Lord Mayor, Ray Hassall and Councillor John Clancy amongst others. After a quick chat and the customary ‘cup of tea,’ preparations for the beginning of Mass started.
Just before the start of Mass, the dignitaries sat in their pews at the front of the Church. At 10:00am the entrance hymn music began, (Christ Be Beside Me- St Patrick’s Prayer) and the procession of children carrying shamrock and Altar Servers along with Deacon Dominic Risley, Father Eamon Corduff from Christ the King Parish, Kingstanding and Parish Priest, Monsignor Pat Browne began to make their way down the aisle towards the Altar.
The children presented a pot of shamrock to the Lord Mayor and John Clancy and the significance of the plant and links to Ireland and St. Patrick were explained.
Mass continued with Councillor Clancy and his wife Rachel, reading the Liturgy of the Word and the Prayers of the Faithful being read by teachers from local Catholic secondary school, Holy Trinity. This also included the Hail Mary being read out by Acting Head of the school, Tim Oxley, in Gaelic.
The Offertory, included traditional Irish culture items including a boran being brought up by Parishioner Mark, a camán (a hurley stick) being brought up a traditionally dressed Irish dancer, followed by the bread and wine.
Father Pat delivered his usual inspiring and moving homily, with a mix of teachings from the Gospel and St Patrick and linked to stories from back home in his beloved Ferbane, County Offaly.
The wonderful celebration continued and culminated in the huge congregation processing up the aisle to receive Holy Communion and after the final blessing, belting out an emotional and touching rendition of Hail Glorious St. Patrick, but only after Fr Pat had explained to the Lord Mayor, the reason for the different colourful county tops being worn. The heartfelt singing filled the Church as the Procession made their way off the Altar to continue with the celebrations of the day and look forward to the start of the St. Patrick’s Parade due to start at 12:00pm.
This was a truly wonderful celebration of Mass and the perfect way to start the day with many more festivities to come throughout the day. Lord Mayor, Ray Hassall conveyed his thanks and enjoyment of the Mass as did many more afterwards.
The bus, arranged by the Parade Committee , was waiting to take the usual Parishioners and locals of a ‘certain age,’ on a drive around the parade.
After the parade, the Church was set up for an afternoon of music and song (with some dancing too) which was introduced with children from the local St. Anne’s School Choir singing. Other groups and individuals providing entertainment included, a Keelan family variety, Mary Leonard, and the Slovak Community providing entertainment which continued until early evening, with tea and light refreshment available including home-made soda bread- all served by parishioners.
During the afternoon, the Lord Mayor and other dignitaries including Parade coordinator, Anne Tighe, arrived back to the presbytery in Bradford Street for Sunday lunch. After an enjoyable afternoon ending with cheese and biscuits, coffee and mints, the day of merriment came to an end and still with more celebrations to come on St. Patrick’s Day on Thursday 17th March.
Father Pat Browne would like to express his thanks to all who contributed in any way to making St. Patrick’s Festival/ Parade Day so special at St. Anne’s Church. People visiting appreciated the preparations for the Mass which contributed to making it so special. There were many comments on the opportunity to spend time in the church after the parade to rest awhile, listen to music and song, as well as the nice cup of tea/coffee and refreshments.
Father Pat, along with John McSwiggan and Dawn Richards would also like to thank Anne Tighe for the meal of ‘bacon and cabbage’ provided on March 17th- St. Patrick’s Day, which was again a wonderful night of celebration.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh!
Dawn Richards