IRISH LANGUAGE MASS FOR ST. BARNABAS
Posted by Jim on August 31, 2019
The Ancient Order of Hibernians will join with Gaelic Societies, great local Irish community groups and parishioners in the strongly Irish Woodlawn-McLean area to host an Irish language Mass on Saturday, September 7th, at noon. Fr. Brendan Fitzgerald, will celebrate the Mass in Gaelic, followed by a brief installation ceremony for newly elected Bronx County officers and refreshments.
Last year, under an initiative by New York State AOH President Vic Vogel, the Bronx AOH hosted an Irish language Mass for the first time. This year Irish-English translations of the liturgy will be made available, so that anyone can read the prayers in English as they hear the Mass said in Irish. A special musical program will include Sean Ruane, Doherty and Lauren Tuffy. A representative of the Ladies AOH,Mary Hogan, will be available to speak about reorganizing the LAOH in the Bronx.
The Mass will be dedicated to all those who have kept the Irish language and culture alive. To symbolize this theme, the AOH flyer depicts a Mass Rock where Gaelic speakers gathered in
secret to hear outlawed Masses said by outlawed priests in defiance of English penal laws.
Bronx County AOH President Martin Galvin noted:
“The Irish language is an important and indestructible part of our Irish heritage. Measures to wipe out the Irish language began even before penal laws to wipe out the Catholic religion in Ireland. Ireland’s cherished landmarks include Mass Rocks, where Gaelic speakers risked death or imprisonment simply to worship. Even today a simple Irish language Act is denied to six county nationalists.
” As an organization formed to promote Irish ideals, culture, history and national freedom, we can think of no more fitting way for AOH members to honor Irish heritage than an Irish Mass embodying all of these themes.”
“There has been a great response from AOH officers, Gaelic clubs, community groups and individuals who would just like to hear the Mass said in the language of our ancestors. St. Barnabas is fortunate enough to have a pastor like Fr. Fitzgerald who can say the Mass in Gaelic.”
The Mass will be held in the St. Barnabas High School Chapel,425 East 240TH Street near the Bronx River Parkway, Deegan Expressway or Metro-North Railroad, on Saturday September 7th at 12 noon. Everyone welcome!