Celebration of the Holy Mass to mark the Return of the Permanent Presence of the Blessed Sacrament to St Malachy's Chapel
St Vincent’s School celebrated a landmark occasion recently. An uplifting and inspiring celebration of the Eucharist was held to mark the return of the permanent presence of the Blessed Sacrament to St Malachy’s chapel. Led by Fr. Mark O'Hagan the school chaplain, members of the school community including three head prefects, participated in the opening procession of the Mass. The Chamber choir sang beautifully throughout and it was evident that the invited guests, all dear to the history of St Vincent’s, together with representatives from the whole school community, were moved by the overt sacredness of the liturgy.
The celebration of the Eucharist was immediately followed by a spirit filled procession of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the school building. As the chapel could not hold the school community, the students in each class group, having engaged with content about the significance of the event in the previous weeks with their RE teachers, were led in prayer to mark the reverence of the moment, by their 6th year mentors. Teachers and students lined the corridors and stairs and as the procession moved by, everyone was blessed with Holy water from the chapel by former Principal Sr. Joan Watters.
The chapel was an integral part of life for the Sisters of Mercy in Dundalk, and when they moved to their new home on Mill Street they donated the sacred space to St Vincent’s. Principal Deirdre Matthews spoke about her wish to have the permanent presence of the Blessed Sacrament returned to the chapel. She noted that a visit earlier in the year by Archbishop Eamon Martin to meet the St Vincent’s Lighthouse Leaders, had paved the way for this holy occasion.
Invited guests included former Principals and Vice-Principals, members of the Sisters of Mercy community, the CEO of CEIST, Chairperson of the Board of Management past and present, as well as Subject Department representatives, a SEN representative, office, canteen and ancillary staff members, Student Council representatives and a delegate from every class in the school.
This was truly a cross-curricular moment in the school’s story. All staff members facilitated the students and themselves to receive the procession of the Blessed Sacrament. The Religious Education, Art and Home Economics Departments worked with management to create a magnificent symbolic piece of art that centred on the Eucharist. Every member of the school community, including guests on the day, were invited to place their thumbprint on the border of the painting to symbolise their individual and collective embrace of the sacred occasion. The Religious Education and Music Department also worked with Management and Fr Mark to prepare and bring about the beautiful liturgy and procession, both of which will be remembered always as a significant sacred event for St Vincent’s.