The occasion was also the first public airing of a new Mass setting by Fr Kevin Golden, former assistant priest of the parish who composed the music to commemorate the very special anniversary. The anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone several months earlier was marked by a Mass by Haydn - the same Mass sung in the same church for the solemn opening day. The St Nicholas Mass- entitled Missa Sancti Nicolai In Nomine Domini was written by Haydn for the feast day of 6th December 1772. Later Haydn seems to have used this Mass for another occasion and we find that the entry Missa St. Nicolai has been changed by crossing out the last word and substituting Josephi instead, all this in Haydn's own hand. In the catalogue of 1805 the work is entitled Missa St. Joseph. Who knows, this may have been the reason it was chosen for the solemn opening 125 years ago. The parishioners of to-day, however, wanted a new Mass for their special anniversary feast day and invited Fr. Kevin to compose it. Much of the new composition allowed the congregation to echo phrases sung either by the choir or cantor. "I wanted the music to lend itself to the liturgy, not to dominate it," explained Fr Kevin. "I hope it is written in a way that the people can pray, and be inspired to participate rather than just to sit and listen to the choir." The music and the musicians were superbly blended for the occasion by Musical Director Mary Veal. Mary was ably supported by her father Kevin Veal who played the newly refurbished Church Organ. |
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19th
March 1999 - The feast of St Joseph Protector of the Church was the perfect setting
for celebration of St. Joseph's Parish 125th Anniversary Mass. The mass
was led by
Bishop Vincent Logan.