Wonderful faith-filled celebration of One Hundred and Fifty years of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Glencorrib, Co Mayo.

On Saturday last, the community of Glencorrib gathered to celebrate an important milestone in the history of their faith community.

Following a moving celebration of the Eucharist, Bishop Michael unveiled a Commemorative Plaque. There was then the launch of an Anniversary Commemorative Booklet (ed Kevin Flood), a reception in Glencorrib Hall and a wonderful parish social that evening.

Our thanks to Fr Vivian, the Organising Committee and all involved for a memorable day.

“Perhaps, a day like today should be a call to radically recommit ourselves, each and every one of us not to a building but rather to living out the message of Christianity and to seriously supporting, nourishing and increasing, those faith communities that our church buildings, whatever form they take, will shelter and serve in the future.” – Bishop Michael

Today, as we give thanks to God for one hundred and fifty years of the presence of this building we call Glencorrib Church (or to be correct the Church of the Immaculate Conception), I think we are being called to focus not so much on the physical building but on the faith of this community.

The faith of the local church that meets to worship God here.

For a Church building is just that – a building that provides shelter for the Church community. If tomorrow this church building was no longer to exist – the church would still exist in this parish, in these parts.

There would still, we hope, be people of faith – people who believe in God. There would still be people who would turn to God in prayer and be inspired by him to live life where love of one another is a priority.

Today, as we gather to give thanks to God for this building – let us give even more thanks to God for the steadfast Christian Faith of the people who built it back when times were tough in the 1870’s.

Let us give thanks to God for the generosity of the Higgins family. Let us give thanks to God for the people of this area, your ancestors, people of faith who responded to the call of the bishop of the time, Dr Mc Evilly, and the local Parish Priest the Fr Goode to freely “give their labour in drawing stones, sand and lime, to the site.”

Let us give thanks to God for the generations of faithful parishioners who came here, week in week out, to worship God and receive his solace.

I think of those who came here during those difficult years of poverty, hunger and emigration, during those turbulent years of the First World War – during those years of our own struggles for independence and during the terrors or World War II.

I think of you here today. Of your parents and grandparents who have gathered in this sacred space.

I think of those who made their First Holy Communion or were Confirmed here. I think of those who at this altar pledged their love for each other in the sacrament of marriage.

I think of the generations of family and friends you brought here in death, placed before the altar and gently commended them to the eternal presence of the living God.

I think of those who have come here to offer a prayer in times of trouble. Light a candle for help.

These walls, these anointed and sacred walls have eavesdropped on some of the most sacred moments of the life of this faith community.

I am deeply conscious that on an occasion like today – questions of the future and what the next years will bring tend to come to mind.

Today, the community of faith in all our parish faces particular challenges that are very different from the challenges people faced when this church was first built.

Personal struggles to believe have meant that, for many, faith and coming to church, is no longer a part of life. Churches that were once filled to capacity on a Sunday morning are now half-empty, often struggling to keep the lights on.

Our priests are quickly ageing. There are few coming forward to follow in their footsteps.

History in general teaches that Church buildings have always come and gone. Our country is littered with ruins of cathedrals and churches and chapels that once stood tall but are no more.

In the long run, what is important is not this or that building but rather the Christian faith of the people that they shelter.

That Christian faith that has remained steadfast in these parts through the challenges of persecution, poverty, famine and now unbelief.

In a world of much uncertainty, the one thing that I am certain of is that the Christian faith remains as valid and as powerfully capable of transforming our lives and our communities as it ever was.

Our future may be in smaller faith communities spread over greater distances – but those faith communities will be close and committed.

They will be communities that will reach out once again in love to invite others to believe in the message of Jesus and to experience what added richness Christian Faith can bring to the journey of life.

Today we proudly celebrate – one hundred and fifty years of this beautiful church here in Glencorrib.

As we do so, it is good to remind ourselves that, perhaps, now more than at any other time in the last one hundred and fifty, we cannot take the continued existence of our local faith communities or the church buildings that shelter them for granted.

Perhaps, a day like today should be a call to radically recommit ourselves, each and every one of us not to a building but rather to living out the message of Christianity and to seriously supporting, nourishing and increasing, those faith communities that our church buildings, whatever form they take, will shelter and serve in the future.