Thurles Information

Picture shows just a small section of the many happy young people who received their First Holy Communion yesterday, in the Cathedral of The Assumption, here in Thurles, Co Tipperary, attending from a local primary school in the area.

First Communion is traditionally an important religious ceremony for Roman Catholic families.  Among those raised in the Catholic tradition, Holy Communion is the third sacrament received from seven sacraments.

The social mission of First Communion is a rite of passage leading to Confirmation and a tradition surrounding same usually include large family gatherings and this was indeed evident in Thurles Cathedral yesterday, with only standing room available for this most joyous of Christian annual events.

Thurles Cathedral Of The Assumption

The Cathedral of the Assumption stands on a site which has ecclesiastical associations since the beginning of the 14th century when a Carmelite Priory was established in Thurles.

About the year 1730 a humble thatched chapel was erected in the vicinity of the former priory, courtesy of the generosity and goodwill of the local Mathew family.  For the next eighty years this simple structure would serve the needs of a poor yet devout Roman Catholic Community.

During the years C.1804 -1807, at a cost of over (Stg) £10,000.00, Archbishop Thomas Bray replaced the thatched chapel with the very impressive “Big Chapel,” of Thurles. Though not formally constituted a Cathedral, this Big Chapel served as the Mother Church to the Archdiocese until, in September 1862, Archbishop Dr Patrick Leahy (Archbishop of Cashel & Emly from 1857 until 1875.) made a decision to substantially renovate and upgrade the then existing building.

The entire cost of the finished project amounted to some (Stg) £30,000.00, with the final design taken in good part from the Cathedral of Pisa in Italy.

Over 45 happy boys and girls received their Confirmation yesterday at the Church of The Sacred Heart, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, Co Tipperary, all attending from three primary schools in the immediate area.

The ceremony which began at 11.00am was presided over by His Grace, Dr Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of the Cashel & Emly Diocese.

Archbishop Clifford was in Rome recently to ordain four Deacons at the Irish College in Rome on Easter Tuesday April 2nd last.

Speaking to the newly confirmed candidates, His Grace spoke of his visit to St. Peters Square in Rome to attend a Wednesday audience with His Holiness, Pope Francis, and afterwards his one to one meeting with the Holy Father.

Archbishop Clifford conveyed the good wishes of the Diocese to His Holiness and in return the Pope asked the Archbishop to pray for him. The Archbishop also passed on a request from His Holiness, latter who asked to be prayed for, by all residents of the Cashel & Emly Diocese.

Dept Of Social Protection Cut Exceptional Needs Payments For Religious Ceremonies

Meanwhile, nationally the Government has announced it is cutting the exceptional needs payments for religious ceremonies. Over €3.4m was paid out to over 14,000 families in Communion and Confirmation grants in 2011. This payout was drastically reduced in 2012 with some 12,500 families receiving €1.5m in assistance. This year the Department of Social Protection has decided this grant will be axed altogether.

The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) advise parents in low income circumstances to make out a budget, to fully estimate what they can really afford. They also suggest that celebrations be held at home rather than at restaurants & hotel venues to avoid unnecessary hardships.

Photo’s courtesy G.Willoughby.