JUBILEE PROCESSIONS IN LIMERICK

New Zealand Tablet, 21 August 1913, Page 45

JUBILEE PROCESSIONS IN LIMERICK

EDIFYING MANIFESTATIONS OF FAITH (From a Limerick Correspondent.) One of the grandest religions unctions that have taken place in me history of Catholic Limerick was that witnessed on Sunday, June 15, in connection with the celebration of the Universal Jubilee by the members of the Confraternity of the Holy Family. In numbers, in fervor, in manifestation of faith, and in outward display it is doubtful if it could have been surpassed by any similar religious demonstration in any part of the world. Early on Sunday morning the city was astir, and when many of the citizens awoke, they found a transformation had taken place during the night: flags and streamers floated gaily in the breeze throughout the city the city flag proudly waved from its lofty vantage point on tne Town Hall and magnificently worked streamers, bearing appropriate mottoes, were carried across the streets in the line of march. As the morning advanced many strangers might be noticed in the city, a large number having come long distances from different parts of the country to witness a procession that no other city in Ireland, or, as a matter of fact, in the world could present, and shortly before noon the crowd in the streets was considerably augmented by the great St. Lawrence O'Toole procession from Dublin, as 2 o'clock approached the city presented an animated and truly picturesque appearance. The various city bands, accompanied by enthusiastic crowds of men, had begun to march towards Mount St. Alphonsus Church, where the Redemptorist Fathers started the confraternity, which numbers over 7000 men. At 2 p.m. punctually the bells of Mount St. Alphonsus pealed forth, and immediately afterwards the great procession began to move. In front of the procession the cross was borne by Rev. Father Murphy, C.SS.R., assisted by a large number of acolytes. Then followed St. John's Temperance Band, after which the various sections of the confraternity in alphabetical order; marched. The Tuesday night division was led by the Boherbuoy Brass Band, and the Wednesday night (boys’) division marched after St. Joseph's Industrial School Band. A large number of banners and bannerets and sacred pictures were borne in the procession, a beautiful statue of St. Columcille, on a pedestal, carried by a number of stalwart men, occupying a conspicuous place. The various bands played sacred music, each band taking its turn and the sections immediately after each band sang hymns to the music so rendered. In the intervals prayers were recited by the prefects of the various sections, the members devoutly responding. At St. John’s Cathedral the procession halted, and entered the church and grounds, where prayers for our Holy Father the Pope were recited by the Rev. Father Michael Murphy, Adm., Rev. Father T. Macnamara, and Rev. Father Connolly, and responded to by the confraternity members. St. Mary's Church was then visited, and the decorations, etc., of this old and historic parish deserve a special word of praise. Beautiful streamers, banners, and bannerets, bearing appropriate mottoes, were everywhere in evidence. One of these bore the dates— lß6B (the date of the inauguration of the confraternity) and 1913. Nearly every house along the route was tastefully decorated, and beautiful statues of the Blessed Virgin were displayed in recesses throughout the parish. Rev. Father Rea, who worked energetically, recited the prayers. At St. Joseph’s Church prayers were said by Rev, Father Devane. Rev. Father Mangan, C.SS.R., the indefatigable director of the confraternity who

worked, hard from an early hour, was the chief director of the procession, and was ably supported by a body of orderlies, and as a result of their labors in the handling of over 7000 men and boys there was not the slightest hitch. “ v The following was the route for the first Sunday, June 15:—Quin street, O’Connell avenue, O’Connell street, William street, Cathedral place, to St. John's Cathedral, from the Cathedral through John street. Broad street, Sir Harry’s Mall, Ahern’s row, to St. Mary’s Church, from St. Mary's through Athlunkard street, and O’Connell street to St. Joseph’s Church. Another Magnificent Procession. ' The final jubilee procession of the members of the confraternity of the Holy Family was held on Sunday, June 22, and to say that it eclipsed that of the previous Sunday in point of numbers, fervor, and enthusiasm is no exaggeration. The proceedings on the whole were a remarkable success, reflecting great ■ credit on the promoters—the good Bedemptorist Fathers—who have been ever watchful of the spiritual interests of the large body of Catholic men who comprise the largest confraternity in the world. The route of the procession was different from the previous Sunday, O’Connell street and William street being struck out, while Upper Henry street, Charles street, Wolf Tone street, Edward street, Parnell street, and Gerald Griffin street were substituted. From St. John’s Cathedral to St. Mary's Church, and thence to St. Joseph’sthe final church to be visited—the route was the same as on the previous Sunday. All of the above-mentioned thoroughfares were tastefully decorated with streamers, ever*greens, flags, and religious pictures, 'the inhabitants vying with one another in the erection of artistic altars, with the result that some very pretty sights were witnessed. The inhabitants, especially in the older parts of the town, spared neither time, expense, nor trouble to show their devotion to the faith for -which their forefathers suffered, and even gave up their lives. To the Rev. Father Mangan, C.SS.R., the director of the confraternity, the greatest credit is due for his untiring efforts to make the procession the brilliant success it undoubtedly was. The weather on both occasions was perfect. Rain threatened on the second Sunday, but happily the weather held up until about 8 o’clock, when rain descended in torrents, and spoiled the after illuminations. All the streets were decorated with bunting, banners, lanterns, etc., especially St. Mary’s parish and Boherbuoy. The decorations of the O'Connell and the Sarsfield statues were, most tasteful, reflecting great credit on those responsible for the work. The Procession. The boys headed the procession, followed by the Monday night division, tne Tuesday night division bringing up the rear. In the middle of each group of twenty sections, one of the , bands marched and played hymns, one verse being played after each decade of the Rosary. Following each group came either a large statue or banner, borne by a number of men wearing sashes. Small banners and shields, bearing the names of each section, were borne by the subprefects and prefects. From shortly after 1 o’clock the members began to congregate in the field attached to the Redemptorist Church. All being satisfactorily arranged, a start was made. His Lorsdhip, Most Rev. Dr. Dwyer, accompanied by the Very Rev. Canon Andrew Murphy (St. Munchin’s) viewed the procession, and were greatly delighted with it. In the vicinity of tho Redemptorist Church a vast multitude of people were assembled, and also along the streets en route . Arriving at Henry street, the procession proceeded along Charles street and Wolfe Tone street, where crowds of large dimensions were gathered. From Wolfe Tone street the procession continued to Boherbuoy, where the decorations were of the most picturesque and pleasing design. Here also a large number of banners were displayed. Parnell street, Gerald Griffin street, and Cathedral place were also nicely decorated. Rev. father Michael Murphy, Adm., met the processionists at St. John’s, while Rev. Fathers Thornhill and Fitzgerald, recited the prayers for the Pope’s intentions. From St. John’s the procession continued on through

Irishtown, across Baal’s bridge, Sir Harry’s Mall, and on to St. Mary’s Church. Rev. Father D. R. Shanahan, assisted by Rev. Father Rea, recited the prayers which the processionists answered with great fervor. After leaving St. Mary’s the procession wended its way to St. Joseph’s Church, the last to be visited. The route was through Athlunkard street, across Mathew bridge, along Rutland street, Patrick street, and O’Connell street. At St. Joseph’s Church Rev. Father J. A. O’Connor, Adm., St. Michael’s and St. Joseph’s, received the vast multitude from whence they dispersed to their homes after the usual prayers had been recited. To his Lordship, Rev. Dr, O’Dwyer, who readily consented to the holding of the procession ; to Rev. Father Mangan, the director of the confraternity ; to the prefects, sub-prefects, and orderlies for the splendid work done, great praise is due. The city bands, all*of which gladly availed of the opportunity to take part, deserve a special word of praise. Special mention must Jre made of the devout bearing of one and all who took part in the procession. The devotion of the Limerick people on Sunday, June 22, and Sunday, June 15, gave a striking evidence of their .fidelity to the teaching of the Church. Taking the procession as a whole it was a sight well calculated to gladden the Catholic heart, for it bore ample testimony to the fact that the Faith of St. Patrick is as strongly planted to-day in the hearts of the Limerick people as ever it was in the dark and evil days of the penal times. It proved that a materialistic and unbelieving age has not shaken the love of Limerick for the Catholic Church which she prized through the persecutions of centuries, and it was a wonderful and truly inspiring proof of the good work which the Redemptorist Fathers have accomplished in our midst. The Decorations. The splendour and picturesqueness of the decorations along the route for Sunday’s magnificent procession could not be surpassed. From an early hour on Saturday until nearly 12 o’clock on Sunday the residents in every parish worked energetically putting up streamers, bannerets, ' religious pictures, and erecting altars. The decorations not only proved the deep religious feeling which animated the Catholic community of the city, but the fact that the people, who erected them, possess a keen and marked sense of the artistic. The amount of work entailed in the carrying out of the decorations was very great, and those who undertook it spared neither trouble, time, nor expense. All the streets mentioned were tastefully decorated. Every house was most artistically ornamented. Quantities of colored lanterns were hung from the houses, large portions of trees were planted along the streets, altars were erected in every nook and corner and were greatly admired by the thousands of people who traversed the city from an early hour in the morning. St. Mary’s parish was beautiful in the extreme, especially along the Sand Mall, and Athlunkard street, as well as opposite St. Mary’s Church. Boherbuoy was also very beautiful, as was Bank place. Outside St. John’s Temperance Hall a fine painting of the Siege of Limerick was exhibited, and a multitude of people pressed from early morning till night to view the work. Throughout the city large bonfires were lighted in the evening, adding another feature to the decorations.