Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown is to wear vestments made by a former shirt factory worker to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of St Eugene’s Cathedral on Sunday.
The chasuble (over-vestment) was made by Marie Horton and will be worn by the bishop to celebrate the women of Derry who supported the cathedral over the last 150 years. Derry diocesan spokesman Fr Michael Canny said the vestments would also feature other references to the city's shirt factory industry.
“The chasuble has embroidered on it the name of every shirt factory in Derry as well as an image of the Rosemount factory in the Cathedral parish. There are also other images from shirt making. The cross on the chasuble is made from shirt material,” he said.
Fr Canny said a second commemoration Mass, on the actual anniversary on Thursday May 4, would also be celebrated by Bishop McKeown and would include Derry singer, Dana Rosemary Scallon who will sing her new song dedicated to St Patrick.
With its huge spire a feature of Derry’s skyline, St Eugene’s is one of the city’s best known landmarks. The cathedral was opened and dedicated on May 4 1873, more than 20 years after the foundation stone was laid in 1851.
Since then, St Eugene’s has played witness to many of the most noteworthy events in Derry’s history. It was where Requiem Mass was held for former SDLP leader John Hume and later his late wife Pat. It was also the church from which the funerals of some of the city’s best-known figures took place, including broadcaster Gerry Anderson and Irish News columnist, Anita Robinson.
The grounds of St Eugne’s also mark the final resting place of the most recent bishops of Derry, including Bishop Edward Daly. Appointed bishop in 1974, Bishop Daly first came to prominence when he was filmed waving a blond-stained handkerchief as he led a group of men carrying the body of Bloody Sunday victim, Jackie Duddy from the Bogside in 1972. He is buried in a tomb directly beside the main door to St Eugene’s.
In 1987, St Eugene’s became a focus of news attention when the RUC baton-charged and fired plastic bullets at mourners attending the funerals of IRA men Paddy Deery and Eddie McSheffrey. The two men were killed when a bomb they were transporting exploded prematurely.
At their funerals, 20 people were injured when police – who had been flanking the funeral procession – moved in after an IRA man fired a volley of shots over their coffins, just outside St Eugene’s.
A new statue has also been commissioned to mark the anniversary. The statue is dedicated to Blessed Carlo Acutis (1991-2006). Blessed Carlo was an amateur website designer who had a deep faith in the Eucharist and Rosary.
Fr Canny said: “Carlo is a powerful example of faith for young people. Having his statue in the Cathedral encourages young people to come to the Cathedral to pray and it makes the Cathedral a place to pray for young people.”
Blessed Carlo’s mother, Antonia has also gifted a lock of his hair to St Eugene’s. Both the statue and the reliquary containing his hair will be blessed by Bishop McKeown at Mass (10am) on May 3 which would have been Carlo’s birthday.
Every parish in the Derry diocese is also to receive two oak trees to mark the important anniversary. Fr Canny said everyone was welcome to attend the Masses on Sunday (3pm), Wednesday (10am) and Thursday 7.30pm).
