More than 2,000 people pack into St Augustine's Church for closing Mass

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 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.” 

Once the applause had died down, Fr O’Reilly suggested that the famous Christy Ring Chalice — fashioned from Ring’s eighth All-Ireland senior medal — could soon be reunited with its seven companion trophies, perhaps in the GAA Museum at Croke Park.

Sunday's 11.30am Mass closed a chapter of the city’s history that dates back more than 750 years, when the Augustinians founded the Red Abbey in the South Parish, where the ruin of the old medieval belfry tower still stands.

Owned and run by the Augustinian friars, with the consent of the diocese of Cork and Ross, the present church was built in 1942 on the site of an earlier chapel dating back to 1872, and its adjoining priory was built in 1982.

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.

There was barely even standing room in St Augustine’s, and bar the odd, blessed breeze, the heat was stifling, with many in the congregation fanning themselves with their missalettes.

Those in attendance were predominantly, though far from exclusively, older, and people sat and kneeled all around the edge of the altar, and up its steps.

Afterwards, 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 to their reward, while others said they had moved to other churches but still loved the old place.

One woman said she was not religious at all, but still believed in God, and felt sad to see the Augustinian fathers leave.

It was a poignant occasion for many, with several people fighting back tears and others surrendering to emotion.

But it was a moment of joy and good humour too, a celebration of faith and community, and a grateful remembrance of all of the Augustinians who have 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 retired Augustinian Church Choir.

Strange though it might seem to say it, 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, which ended in rebel yells and cheers.

The final blessing was delivered by Bishop Buckley.