A significant part of Blackwater’s religious heritage is the annual Eucharistic Procession and when the 2013 renewal takes place in the village today at 3 o’clock, it marks a hundred years of traditional religious devotion.
The Blessed Sacrament procession in Blackwater is seen as “an inspiring public demonstration of the Faith.”
Parish priest, Fr. Hugh O’Byrne is spearheading the procession hand-in-hand with his parishioners, and he is particularly proud that he will preside at the 100th event. He understands that survival for a century is an important milestone.
“There has been tremendous interest over the last couple of weeks and people have been coming along to ask what they can do to celebrate the day, offering their time and services, and people have been painting and cleaning up, and there is generally a good atmosphere in the place.
The first procession was held in 1914 on Corpus Christi, a moveable feast which used to be a holy day and everyone was off work, by Fr. Thomas Quigley who was parish priest in the seaside parish from 1918 until 1942, and incidentally, had replaced Fr. William Codd who was elevated to the position of Bishop of Ferns after serving six years in Blackwater.
According to local belief, it was inspired by a public procession which took place sometime previously on the occasion of a Parish Mission and during Bishop Codd’s pastorate.
The procession will feature the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament under canopy, followed by various community groups, the children who made first Holy Communion and confirmation, and anyone who wants to join in, marching with the recitation of prayers and the singing of hymns.
Why did the Blackwater procession survive for a century when so many others fell by the wayside? Fr. O’Byrne offers two observations;
“I would day two things; A lot of priest who worked here have worked in towns or in areas where there has been strong devotion on a special day and we had men who were natives of Wexford and had worked in Enniscorthy and they were well used to it and it was easy for them to lift it up and bring it out here with them – some of them would have been missioners – but apart from that the people here themselves always seemed to want to celebrate this occasion.”
“The Eucharistic Congress in Dublin last year certainly seems to have encouraged people to look at the Eucharist, and also being the year of Faith, it is something for us to celebrate as a Catholic people and to thank God for the Faith we have.
Fr. O’Byrne and the entire Blackwater community have issued an open invitation to parishioners and clergy in the parishes of the Diocese of Ferns to join with them in their special celebration.”
The procession takes place today, Sunday, June 2nd at 3 o’clock, leaving the church for the village, turning left towards Kilmuckridge, turning back through the village and up past the school towards Curracloe, turning again towards the village, and concluding at the altar of the grotto in the centre of the village.
Full story in the Echo Newspapers this week.
