When I was a kid I remember Holy Cross Church every Sunday being packed
Every seat was filled and so there were people who stood up the sides and at the back .
At the midday mass you would have heard Tocca in D minor at Holy Cross .
Father Marcellus our local parish priest played the organ, with his white hair tossed .
His head shaking and hands taking to the keys as each note was played without falter .
Father Ultan liked Bach and gave him a wave from the other side of the altar.
He might have been a famous pianist one day , if God’s will had decided so .
Apart from riding his motor bike Father Marcellus liked Friday night bingo .
Father Denis always liked calling out bingo numbers in Latin during Lent .
It was meant to show others that a Catholic education was time well spent .
Father Denis kept Saturdays free in case of a knock at the presbytery door .
Saturday was also when the men’s confraternity discussed what lay in store.
It was a serious business keeping in touch with parish life in the district .
Saturdays selection of flowers for all the five altars in the church were hand picked , by the legion of Mary who also pressed the linen and robes for all the priests .
The order of the Cross and Passionists Fathers dressed in collars without a crease .
Monday was a quiet day in the parish as Priests hit the streets visiting homes.
They went to see the aged who couldn’t walk cause Authur- ite -tis was in their old bones .
Some old folk never got to communion in the winter .
The paths were too slippy .
After mass on Sunday you would have heard the kids screaming after Mr Whippy .
These days kids scream different things and Holy Cross is not as packed as it used to be .
Life is not centred around the church and a D minor has changed Toccas
Key .





By Paul McCann