This month’s blog travels back to Passage East to the middle of June 1912. The origins of the story were a photo which photographer Andy Kelly shared with me some years back that he had received from Sean Furlong, who generously allowed me to use it for this story. The image was perplexing as I could find no specific purpose for the gathering, but recently, when researching the origins of the cross on Cheekpoint Green, the story emerged. The Jesuit mission was a weeklong event that saw fishermen and their families travel from all the estuary villages to participate. Earlier in the week, the boats, nets and fisherfolk had been blessed from the main quay, and the finale took place initially at St John the Baptist church at Crooke before the procession wound its way down the hill to the village. The piece here is reproduced in full, without comment or amendment.

The Mission

The mission given by the Jesuit Missionary Fathers – Rev Father Barrett, SJ, Rev Father Doyle, SJ, and Rev Father Weafer, SJ, in the parish of Crooke (Passage East) came to a close on Sunday 16^th Inst.

This mission must ever be a bright spot in the memory of the people, especially the fishermen and sailors of the district, as well as a memorable event in Passage East.

The first week of the mission, as stated in last week’s issue of the Star, was characterised, in addition to the usual religious exercises of a mission, by ceremonies so imposing and impressive that they will live in the minds of the people forever. Nor was the second week less memorable in this respect.

The religious exercises of the mission were all attended by crowds from every part of the parish, so much so that at the evening devotions standing room could not be found in the church, even though the sanctuary was given over to the accommodation of the children. It was a most edifying spectacle to witness the immense number of persons, old and young, that approached the Holy Communion, not once or twice, but daily during the mission.

There is not one in the parish who has not availed of the grand opportunity afforded to make peace with God, and one and all are loud in their praise of the missioners; well merited praise indeed, for they were all three of them untiring in their efforts for the welfare of the people.

Nobody was neglected, nothing was left undone. The missioners attended the sick and the infirm in their homes, and the dead relatives of the people had a special day of commemoration also. The poor absent sailors at sea were not forgotten.

 

THE BLESSING OF THE CHILDREN

On Thursday the ceremony of blessing the little ones took place in the church. At the appointed hour the mothers brought their little babies of two years and under to receive the solemn blessing given by the missioners. The ceremony was performed by Rev Father Doyle, who first addressed the parents, and in a few words reminded them of the sacred obligations that rested on them regarding the training of the precious little souls entrusted to their care.

Father Doyle possesses a style of eloquence peculiarly his own – a power of obliging his audience to listen, and by his happy method had little difficulty in conveying to the minds of the hearers exactly what he wished them to do. After the blessing he presented each little child with a medal of the guardian angel.

FRIDAY THE FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART

St John the Baptist church, Crooke this June 2026.

A Novena in honour of the Sacred Heart was made during the week, and Friday, the Feast of the Sacred Heart was marked by an event that can never possibly fade from the memory of the people of this parish – the unveiling and erection of the statue of the Sacred Heart overlooking the harbour already blessed by the missioners.

The day was observed with special devotions in the parish. After the Communion of Repreparation in the morning at 7 o’clock Mass when every member of congregation received Our Divine Lord in the Blessed Eucharist, there was exposition of the Blessed Sacrament that was continued through the entire day.

During the day groups of pious and earnest worshippers attended to do honour to their divine Lord. The Holy Hour was kept from 2 o’clock to 3 o’clock pm. This exercise was conducted by Rev Father Barrett. The hour was spent in prayer – with hymns and brief intervals for meditation, and the church was crowded. The high Altar where the Blessed Sacrament was enthroned was grandly decorated with flowers and lights.

The procession winds its way down the hill from Crooke along the White Wall towards Passage East Quay- the roadwas shown was since realigned due to storm damage. Image via Andy Kelly, courtesy of Sean Furlong.

THE UNVEILING AND ERECTION OF THE STATUE OF THE SACRED HEART OVER THE HARBOUR

A beautiful statue of the Sacred Heart was erected in a position overlooking the harbour recently blessed by the missioners. This ceremony was announced to take place on the Feast of the Sacred Heart when a procession was to march from the church to the village for the purpose of erecting the statue. Therefore in the morning a start was made by Patrick and Henry Mason (brothers)  sided by Mr James Adamson, Messrs Thomas and Martin Blake (brothers) and Mr P Mason (jun.) to decorate the place marked by the missioners for the reception of the statue. The results of their efforts in this praiseworthy occupation elicited the admiration of all – not only those of the village and surroundings but of the visitors and foreigners from the boats at anchor in the harbour.

A broad flight of steps guarded by hand rails was ingeniously constructed, and surmounted by a small platform on a level with the elevation where the statue was to be set up. Above this platform on the wall hung a broad white flag bound round with laurel leaves and baring the inscription in crimson letters  “sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on us”

A graceful decoration of greens, ferns, flowers and trailing ivy was arranged around the steps and platform, while the green flag, with its harp and shamrock and the stars and stripes waved proudly in the breeze on both sides of the platform. The window for the statue was tastefully draped in red, with sprays of ivy and ferns, gathered for the procession earlier in the week by the Messrs Mason.

The image that started me on the quest, The procession in Passage East via Andy Kelly, courtesy of Sean Furlong.

The spirit of these exemplary men soon caught on, and in a short time the village was en fete with decorations, green flags and buntings, floral emblems, etc in preparation for the procession.

The scene earlier this month at Passage East

6.15 pm was the hour appointed for the meeting of the members of the confraternity and people in general at the church, and on this occasion the numbers there so greatly increased that the procession when formed rivalled in proportions the huge procession of the previous Friday when the harbour was blessed. Fr Barrett with his wonderful tact soon had the vast concourse in perfect processional order. The cross bearer in front was followed by the altar boys, next came the statue bearers – four members of the confraternity, pioneers as well, two sailors and two boatmen- bearing aloft the exquisite statue of the Sacred Heart. Next came the choir of school boys and girls, then the members of the confraternity – women and men- with their banners displayed and lastly the Rev J ? PP accompanied by Rev Fr Callanan CC and Rev Fr Weafer JS.

Taken from the Waterford Star, Saturday 22 June 1912, page 5.  Any further details would be appreciated.

• Rev Father Barrett
• Fr Willie Doyle SJ
• Fr Michael Weafer

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