Riverstown church celebrates 75th year with an array of events

A large congregation of parishioners and invited guests will converge on Riverstown next Sunday, December 4th to participate in the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Church of the Sacred Heart, which was opened and dedicated on December 7th 1941, in the midst of World War 11.

Throughout the course of this year, very extensive restoration work has been completed in preparation, involving more user- friendly access to the church, extended car- parking facilities, re- roofing of some sections of the building, the provision of a new toilet block, lighting of the compound, and major groundworks.

A 450- page book, “The Church of the Sacred Heart, Riverstown – the Story of a Church and its People”, in full colour throughout with well over 700 photographs and diagrams has been prepared and edited by Andrew Kearns who, together with a number of other parishioners, was a major contributor. The book will be available at the celebrations on December 4th costing € 35.

A large programme of events has been organised for the celebrations.

On the morning of December 4th, the celebrations will begin to mark the spot where the faithful of the parish worshipped for many years.

This celebration will involve the church choir, some historical background information, the unveiling and blessing of a plaque drawing attention to the spot where the old church was, and prayers for the eleven parish priests, thirty- five curates and the faithful who participated in the celebration of the sacraments.

A procession to the existing Church of the Sacred Heart will follow. This will involve the children who will make their First Communion in 2017, the young people celebrating their Confirmation next April, the Sooey School Band, Eucharistic Ministers and Altar Servers from all sections of the parish.

Then, concelebrated Mass in the Church of the Sacred Heart with Bishop Kevin Doran as the Chief Celebrant at 12 midday. Launch of the book published to mark the 75th anniversary edited by Andrew Kearns, “The Church of the Sacred Heart, Riverstown - the Story of a Church and its People”.

Refreshments will be served in the parish hall next door to the church

There will be a display in the church of many of the items that were used in the old church which were preserved or salvaged from various sources, eg, the tabernacle from the old church; old vestments used by the priest and altar servers in those days; some of the full set of the Stations of the Cross, altar Missals and prayer charts used in the celebration of Mass; candlesticks and the branch candles used at Benediction; a beautiful Monstrance donated to the Church of the Sacred Heart when it was opened.

Also on display will be what was almost certainly the Baptismal Font and the Holy Water Font from the original church. Eventually, all of these items and others will be on permanent display in a museum which is being prepared at present.