Church of St Mary and St John - Dedication Ceremony

Dedication Ceremony

On 28 October 1866, the church of St. Mary and St. John was dedicated by the Right Rev. Dr. Delaney, Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Cork. The solemn ceremonies were performed with all the customary pomp of the Catholic ritual. The weather was bright and bracing, and a large number of people from the surrounding country came to witness the dedication. Special trains ran to and from Ballincollig on the Cork and Macroom railway, and they were extensively availed of.

At eleven o'clock the church was full. The ceremony of dedication than commenced. A procession emerged from the sacristy. The procession was headed by a cross-bearer and the acolytes; the inferior clergy then followed by the Dean and the canons, Murphy and Browne, closed the procession. It first proceeded to the principal entrance, where the 50th psalm was chanted. The exterior of the church was then encircled, the Bishop sprinkling the walls with holy water and the clergy singing the prescribed psalms. The procession then entered the church by the main entrance and proceeded up the nave to the high altar, where the Bishop knelt. The clergy distributed themselves around the sanctuary. The litany of the Saints was sung and at that point the faithful departed were prayed for. His Lordship rose and prayed that God might bless the church and altar dedicated to His honour and the honour of the Blessed Mother of God and St. John.

The Litany concluded, appropriate prayers followed, and the procession then reformed and proceeded around the interior of the edifice, the officiating prelate sprinkling the walls with holy water. Returning again to the sanctuary, this portion of the ceremonies concluded and the Bishop was conducted to a handsome throne on the left hand side of the altar. Here he robed for High Mass along with the Dean, Canons and deacons. The altar was prepared for the celebration of the holy sacrifice and a little after twelve his lordship preceded to the foot of the altar richly attired in full vestments.

After the first gospel, the very Rev. Fr. Brigitt delivered a very eloquent and impressive sermon appropriate to the occasion. The very Rev. preacher took for his text the words of Luke VI, V and VI. "And when Jesus came to the place, looking up he saw him and said to him, "Zacheus, make haste and come down, for this day I must abide in thy house."" He said that the beautiful building was a proof that the spirit of Zacheus was in the heart of the people of Ballincollig for it showed that they wished to receive Almighty God in the best manner they could. High Mass was then proceeded with and the ceremonies concluded at two o’clock.