As a group of young Irish dancers brought a different aspect to the St Patrick’s Day Mass celebrated in one Donegal parish at the weekend, in the neighbouring diocese of Derry, Bishop Dónal McKeown was giving a sermon about the dangers of the resistance to change amongst many within the church as it works to undertake a process of renewal.
Parishioners who attended the St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Pennyburn in the city heard Bishop McKeown discuss a range of issues, including the increased dominance of a “secular ideology” in society that’s based around capitalism in which there is no room for those who believe in morality, of sacrifice, and other Christian beliefs such as self-control and right and wrong.
But it was his words on the need to move the church in a direction where it appeals to a younger generation that will strike a chord with many, especially those who attended the special St. Patrick’s Day Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Derrybeg on Sunday, including locals and many visiting for the Bank Holiday weekend.
The St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the Gaoth Dobhair church, which was also broadcast on RTE’s Raidió na Gaeltachta, began and ended with a performance by a group of Irish dancers from a local dance school, accompanied by Irish traditional musicians as well as a performance of the dance, St. Patrick’s Day, during communion.
As many in the congregation commented afterwards, it was “different” and “definitely a first” for the parish.
The overwhelming sense was that it was a wonderful addition to the Mass for this particular day, with many noting the importance of the participation of young people and their families on a day when parishioners come together for a happy occasion to celebrate the feast of St. Patrick.
It is doubtful that the Gaoth Dobhair Parish Priest, Father Brian O Fearraigh was aware of what would form part of Dr. McKeown’s homily when he first took the decision to incorporate dance into Sunday’s Mass.
Nonetheless, the timing of the Bishop’s words are significant, considering there may be those within the Church who will be critical of Fr. O Fearraigh’s choice.
Dance and indeed anything that brings enjoyment is considered by some to be inappropriate as, to these people, it defies the purpose of attending Mass, which is to adore God, not to entertain.
In Dr. McKeown’s sermon, he said he believed it is a “crucial” time for the Church in Ireland but that there are those within it who will “mock priests and parishes” and “criticise anybody who takes a risk or has an initiative”.
“The desire for a comfortable life can be very strong in church and outside of it,” he said. “But it is not very smart to keep doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results,” he observed, adding that the real challenge ahead is finding new ways to move forward, “bringing the gospel to this generation”.
Fr. O Fearraigh is known and widely respected in his local parish for what some would consider a progressive outlook on a range of issues.
In 2015 he stated publicly that he would be voting Yes in the referendum on same-sex marriage, saying he viewed it as a civil issue which “in no way threatens me or offends me as an individual, as a priest or ultimately as a citizen of this State”.
He will be well aware of the potential for a negative reaction from some sections of the Church for his decision to include a dance performance during Mass.
But no one can deny the declining numbers attending Mass, particularly among young people and families of which, the implications on parish life and communities are widely known.
No parish in Donegal, or anywhere in the country, is immune to this.
If there is any hope of reversing that trend, there must be room for engagement with those with shifting cultural values as well as a welcoming and inclusive approach towards families and young people.
There’s no doubt that fresh initiatives are needed; involving dance during Mass may be just the beginning.