Golden memories at church jubilee celebration Mass

The Golden Jubilee of St Colmcille’s Church, Kells has been marked by a special Mass, celebrated by Dr Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath, who was joined by a number of priests native to Kells and some priests who had served in the parish. A very large crowd attended and great interest was shown in a photographic display in the church, showing photos dating from the old church to the present day. In his sermon at the Jubilee Mass, Fr Sean Smith, a native of the parish, said his earliest memory of Kells was looking down on the site of the church. He recalled how, when he asked Fr McCullen for permission to celebrate his first Mass in Kells 50 years ago, Fr McCullen asked him which church he would like to use, as the new one was finished but the old one was still in use! He spoke of the history of Christianity in Kells, dating back to the time of St Colmcille, and the need people have always had for God. “There was a mystery, a magic, about the place here. The stream outside here which, in the days of the old church was very visible gave a great finish to the site of the old church which also was surrounded by many beautiful trees. The little river was made into a big trough outside so that when people came to Mass in horse and trap, the horses would have plenty of water to drink while they waited during Mass, in the 1840s and 1850s. “But what gave this area the magic touch in that great age of faith was the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament here in the House of God. Also of course the Mercy Sisters were here and I have fond memories of Sr Dominic, Mother Gabriel, Sr Magdalen, Sr Carmel, Sr Frances Theresa and Mother Stanislaus. I am a past pupil of them all,” he said. He recalled that the people of Kells waited a long time for their new church. “The old church was in very bad condition, rain was coming through and it was not unusual to have swallows flying inside. They were able to gain access through small window panes, a few of which were broken. Fr Mc Cullen came here as Parish Priest in 1935 and it was said he was sent here specifically to build a new church. Initially he made efforts to collect some money but World War 11 broke out in 1939 and all talk of a new church was put on hold.” He recalled that it wasn’t until the late 1950s that things began to happen. “Some people would say the old church was beginning to fall down. One Sunday at Mass plaster came down and there was a bit of a stampede.” The 50th anniversary celebrations have been taking place all year. A jubilee concert was presented by the Kells Musical and Dramatic Society in July with special guests, Matthew Gilsenan of the Celtic Tenors, Simon Casey of 'You’re a Star’ fame, Fr Ray Kelly, Helen Gilsenan, Ann Galligan and the Kells Musical and Dramatic Society. The jubilee celebrations also included a series of three talks including one by John Lonergan, retired governor of Mountjoy Prison on 'Social Justice’ The Kells Drama Group performed the Passion Play on Good Friday, there was a special mass for Leaving Certificate students in May and the Dublin Choral Foundation, including the Lassus Scholars, sang at Mass on 15th May. St Colmcille’s Church was dedicated on 23rd October 1960 by Most Reverend John Kyne, the then Bishop of Meath. The building cost £108,000 and the architect was WH Byrne and Company of Suffolk Street, Dublin. The church underwent substantial refurbishment in 2005 and was rededicated on 24th September that year. The Mission which was to mark the end of the year of celebrations has been postponed until next April, due to the illness of one of the Redemptorists who will be leading the Mission.