After extensive renovations, the Church Of St. John Baptist, Drumaroad, Co. Down, was re-opened yesterday with Solemn High Mass at which His. Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Mageean, Bishop of Down & Connor, presided. The Celebrant of the Mass was Rev. T. Keenan, C.C., Cushendun; deacon, Rev. F. M'Kenna, C.C., The Rock, Hannahstown; and sub-deacon, Rev. J. Logue, C.C., Tyconnett. Rev. C. O'Neill, C.C., St. Peter's Belfast, was master of ceremonies. A collection to assist in defraying the cost of the renovation amounted to £1,027.

THE MUSIC

The Mass was Gregorian, "Orbis Factor", and the Proper of Sunday was sung by St. Mathew's Choir, Belfast. "O Bone Jesu" (Palestrina) was sung during the collection, and "Panis Angelicius" (Franck) at the Offertory. The morning's ceremonies closed with the chanting of the "Te Deum". In the evening "Salve Mater" "Jesu Dolorus Victima" (Larchet), the "Tantum Ergo" (Piro), "Adoremus", "Laudate", and the "Magnificat" (Eight Tone) were sung. After Rev. C. O'Neill's sermon Tadg Gaedhealch's "Mo Gradhsa agus Mo Dhia" was sung.

THE SERMON

The preacher was Very Rev. Father Evangelisi, O.F.M., Merchant's Quay, Dublin, who took for his text: "The work is great, for a house is prepared, not for man, but for God". (Paralip.,xxix.). He said:

"This church, rebuilt and decorated with such taste, should be for the people of the parish, and especially for its Pastor, Rev. Father Cahill, P.P., a source of joy and pride. Great sacrifices you must have made, but to-day do they not appear small when God showers his blessing upon you?" "The work is great, for a house is prepared, not for man but for God."

"You gave of your best for God, and your reward shall be a hundred fold." "If only the world at large would follow your example, what a changed and happy earth we should have!" "Wherever one turns, one word is heard and read: that word is-war." "War and rumours of war, bitterness, hatred, and strife resound through the world." "Our Lord reminds us that it shall always be so." "And why?" "Because God's Church is neglected." "Men hate it, persecute it, seek to uproot it from its very foundations." "Rulers and statesmen have no time to think of God or to ask his help or guidance, much less to build a temple in his honour."

"The result is that, instead of peace, there is strife; in the place of charity there is suspicion and hatred among the nations. The problem of world peace is not economic nor military, but spiritual."

"Far difficult was the conduct of the great and wise King Solomon, who thought himself privileged to call together the whole nation that he might build a great temple to God." "This church which you have built may not have the glory and shining splendour of the great temple; yet nobler far than the temple, it shelters, not the Ark of the Covenant and the stone tables of the law and the Maker of Covenant." "The work is great, for a house is prepared, not for man, but for God." "As you look around on the work now completed surely from your lips must break the wondering cry of Solomon:" 'Who am I that I should be able to build him a house?'.

"What joy rises in your hearts that you have contributed something towards the building of God's House, towards making a sanctuary for your King!"

A LIVING PRESENCE

"He is always here with us, that is what gives the peculiar atmosphere of a living presence to Catholic churches." "Take away the tabernacle and the abiding presence, and this church would become as cold and as forbidding as the conventicle of any sect." "Night and day he remains here, a King of love on his throne of mercy." "To him you come time after time to confide to Him your joys and sorrows, to gain strength and courage on your way to Heaven." "Each Sunday the whole parish gathers here." "Calvary is renewed, and on this altar the Divine Victim is offered up in Holy Mass, to adore God and bring down his graces on our Souls." "This is God's house in truth and in reality." "It is our house too, where our Friend and Master receives us kindly, and sends us on our pilgrimage refreshed and strengthened with a divine food."

"From the altar, he speaks to us through his priest and tells us how to live that we may save our souls." "The same message that he himself delivered, by the seaside and in the busy city, you will hear again unchanged with the changed years." "Outside there is controversy, wrangling doubt; here is truth that cannot deceive or be deceived." "Heaven and earth may pass away but my word shall not pass." "This is indeed God's House and your house." "Here it was that the super natural life of grace was first born in your soul, when you were carried in arms to the church; and it is here you must come again if through any human frailty you lose that life of grace." "Then you also will receive the mercy that Christ dispensed long ago to sin-weary souls, 'thy sins are forgiven thee, go in peace and sin no more'." As the years pass others shall fill those seats that you today occupy, but the church shall always remain an eloquent testimony to your love and generosity." It is you have built this church, and that can always be your proud boast, but it is fitting also that we should remember those who laid its foundation."

BLESSED JOHN DUNS SCOTUS

"I hope therefore that it will not out of place if I refer briefly to things Franciscan." "Indeed on such an occasion it would be difficult to speak in this diocese much less in this parish without recalling the bond of friendship that, even in the darkest days of persecution, always united the Sons of Poverello with the people of Down & Connor." "Three centuries before Luther raised the standard of revolt the Franciscan Order ever produced, Blesses John Duns Scotus." "The murky fog that so long clouded this friar's name has almost cleared away."

"The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception so dear to his heart, so necessary according to the principles of his philosophy and theology, so ably defended by him, is now a degma of our holy faith."

"St Bernadette, its herald, is a canonised saint." "May we not hope that Mary's intrepid champion may soon be placed on our altars for public veneration."

HUGH M'CAUGHAL

"Mention of Duns Scotus naturally brings to our mind his great countryman, Hugh M'Caughal, great scholar and patriot." "Since the penal laws did not permit Irishmen to be educated at home, M'Caughal, then in Rome, cooperated with Wadding in founding at Rome two colleges for the education of priests for the Irish mission." "These two colleges, St. Isidore's and the Irish College-sent home a constant supply of priests, who kept the faith alive in the hearts of the people, and with the faith a burning devotion to the vicar of Christ." "Later consecrated Archbishop of Armagh, Hugh M'Caughal, unhappily never took pocession of his See." "When Ireland sorely needed him, he was struck down by fever and died in 1656 far from home, like many another great Irishman." "He was laid to rest under the shadow of St. Peter's crowning dome."

"Of the many Franciscan bishops who ruled here, I select only one, namely, Cornelius Devaney, 1583-1612." "We read in the Brevior Synopsis that, after thirty years of labours for his beloved people, this saintly man of eighty years was arrested and thrown into a dungeon in Dublin Castle." "For three years he was left there without trial." "At least three came a mock trial before a packed jury and a corrupt judge." "The inevitable sentence was passed." "In the barbarous fashion of the time, the venerable bishop and his chaplain, Patrick O'Loughran were condemned to be hanged, drawn, and quartered."

"The place of execution now called George's Hill was on the bank of the Liffey, opposite Dublin Castle." "Hither on the morning of February 11th, 1612, they were brought." "Two heretical ministers went with them, in the hope, at the last, the martyrs might falter, and give up the faith, rather than face a death so cruel." "With firm step and unaided, that old white haired man mounted the platform." "Scoring the tempters, he turned to the people and pointing, to the Protestant church nearby, told them how easy it would have been for him to save his life at the expense of his faith."

HIS ONE REQUEST

"One request and one only he made: that the executioners should allow his chaplain, a young man, to face the torture first." "He feared lest the sight of his own cruel butchery might unnerve his youthful companion." "They refused his request." "He died." "His youthful companion did not falter either." "Their blood mingled in one red stream, and men and women stepped linen and handkerchiefs in it, gathering it up from the street as precious relics, as something more precious than rubies or gold." "Soon, very soon, we hope and pray that we shall honour these holy men as saints on our altars."

"To this diocese, then, the Franciscans owe a debt of gratitude." "Down and Connor gave us a home, gave us saints, patriots, and scholars." "On the other hand, it is fair to add even in the darkest day of persecution never did the friars desert the people."

"In a document of the 17th century, signed by priests and people, we read: 'that there was in the County (Down) the order of St. Francis; which had continued always even during the hardship of the late greatest troubles and persecutions to serve God and the people therein'." "Towards the end of the 17th century the monastery at Down was plundered and burned, while three members of the Community were hanged from oak trees in the garden." "The others succeeded in escaping, and fled to the parish, finding refuge out beyond at Drumnaquoile, where you can still see the ruins of the old Franciscan monastery."

"Dublin Castle was soon informed of this new place of residence." "In 1731 the Sheriff of the County sent word to Dublin, that there was only one monastery in County Down, and that was at a place called 'Drum-na-Coyle'. Here, then among you, the friars found a home." "Here in their school they taught to children." "In church they worked and prayed."

LINK WITH THE PAST

"Sword or fire could not drive them from the land." "In 1800 the walls of the chapel were still standing."

"In the archives at Merchant's Quay is a list of superiors of Drumnaquoile monastery, the last entry coming down to the year 1822." "Here in this church-thanks to the care and foresight of the Rev. Fr. Cahill, P.P., is a precious relic of that Franciscan monastery."

"It is the old altar stone, placed there in the wall…as a link with the past, as an enduring memorial of their fidelity to the Mass, fidelity for which your fathers suffered, and gladly died."

"Today from out our hearts should raise a hymn of thanksgiving to God who has preserved to us the gift of faith, so that we all-shepherd and people-can knell at the same altar and participate in the same sacrifice, giving our allegiance to the Vicar of Christ." In the past God's providence guarded us." "From that we can take heart." "The dark clouds of persecution that today hover over North-East Ireland will also pass away, and once again, the bright sun of peace will shine out."

Rev. D. Cahill, P.P., Drumaroad returned thanks to his Lordship, the priests and the people, and all who had assisted him in bringing the church to its present state of perfection. He also thanked the preacher for his eloquent and impressive sermon.

The clergy present, in addition to those mentioned were: -

Very. Rev. Dr. Roger's Inspiring Address

When the "Big Wind" swept a destructive path over Ireland one hundred years ago, a little church, which was being built at Drumaroad crumbled beneath the fury of this hurricane. The parish priest of Ballykinlar and the people of the area recommenced the work of building, and yesterday the centenary celebrations of that church took place.

Amongst the parishioners and visitors who crowded the church were people who had been baptised by its builder, Father Patrick Curoe.

"Your parish is rich in its noble tradition of loyalty to the faith, a tradition which, extending back to the beginning of persecution, enshrines a story of unshaken devotion to the Mass," said Very. Rev. Patrick Rogers, M.A., D.Litt., who, preaching in the church at High Mass of Ireland's fight for the faith, spoke movingly of the persecution of the Catholic people of Ireland and the execution of their bishops and priests during the Penal Days.

High Mass was celebrated by Rev. J. Moloney, C.C., of Kilcoo. The deacon was Rev. P. J. Bennett, C.C., Dundrum; sub-deacon, Rev. J. Donaghy, S.M.A., Nigeria, West Africa; and the master of ceremonies was Rev. P. Braniff, S.M.A., Nigeria.

After High Mass Rev. D. Cahill, P.P., Drumaroad, in a short address, said it was a historic day for the parish, and thanked the officiating priests and the people.

The rosary was then recited in the cemetery attached to the church by Fr. Cahill, Very. Rev. Father Canice, O.M.Cap., Dublin, and Very Rev. Dr. Rogers

In the evening the new Grotto of the Blessed Lady in the church grounds was solemnly blessed and dedicated by Venerable Archdeacon M'Kenna, P.P., V.G., Castlewellan, and an inspiring sermon on devotion to our Blessed Lady was preached by Father Canice.

STRUGGLE TO UPHOLD THE FAITH

Preaching at the High Mass, Rev. Dr. Rogers spoke of the struggle in Ireland to uphold the faith through days of rigorous persecution. "It is in the spirit of deep and humble gratitude," he said, "that we knell before the altar in this church which, by its historic associations, recalls memories of the Penal Days. Loyalty to the faith is inseparable from devotion to the Mass. Lack of devotion leads to the weakening of the spirit amongst a people that may end in the loss of the faith. If these truths have been understood by Catholics they have also been understood by the enemies of the Church, who were agreed that in their attempt to overthrow the Catholic religion they would first have to destroy the people's belief in the Mass and the priesthood. Hence we find that in countries like England and Russia and Denmark where the reformation gained ground belief in the Mass was denounced and held to ridicule. The English people offered little real resistance.

"The most important reason for their surrender was that they had grown careless about their religious duties, neglectful of the Mass."

"The English as a nation, notwithstanding the heroic examples of priests and people who were persecuted for the faith, failed in their loyalty to the Mass, and their country passed from the household of the faith.

The Catholics of Ireland were threatened with a similar fate. From the beginning of Elizabeth's reign it was the consistent policy of the English Government to extend the Reformation to Ireland. In carrying out this policy there were passed the most severe laws that ever disfigured the Statue Book of any country; there was practised a campaign of intimidation and violence which could be likened to the recent Russian or the Mexican persecutions. The Irish-both priests and people-prepared to resist the Government, come what might.

DRASTIC MEASURES OF COERCION

"As the Queens' reign advanced this resistance hardened, and the Government adopted more drastic measures of coercion. Then began the long list of Irish Martyrs of the Faith. Among the first priests to lay down their lives were three who lived in their own neighbourhood, three Franciscan friars of Downpatrick, who were hanged from an oak tree beside their plundered monastery, many bishops were executed. To save the Faith and their priests the people prepared to take up arms. The rebellions failed, and persecution became worse. In 1605, two years after Elizabeth's death, the Government ordered the banishment from Ireland of all Catholic clergy. Any priest who remained did so at the risk of his own life. The priests steadfastly refused to abandon their flocks, and more names were added to the list of martyrs.

"It was said of the early martyrs of the Church that their blood was the seed of Christians; that the sacrifice of their lives, which they willingly made for Christ's sake, won countless converts to the true faith. So in this persecution, the sight of bishops and priests hunted, imprisoned, tortured, and done to death, strengthened the Irish people in their loyalty to the Mass, confirmed them in the resolve never to abandon the treasure of the faith which had been purchased for them by the sheding of Christ's Most Precious Blood.

CROMWELL'S MERCILESS ARMY

"In the middle of the 17th century Cromwell came with his merciless army and Ireland felt the heavy hand of the most intolerant of her oppressors. After his death persecution slackened only to break out afresh over the so-called 'Popish Plot'. The great Archbishop of Armagh the Blessed Oliver Plunket, was carried a prisoner to London, and there was condemned on perjured evidence.

On 11th July 1681, the mounted the scaffold at Tyburn, the last Catholic priest to die for the Faith in England. Four years later a Catholic King, James II, cam to the throne, and for a time the Church enjoyed freedom. But James was defeated at the Boyne in 1690, and the Protestant power was re-established in Ireland. In the year after the Battle of the Boyne the treaty of Limerick was signed and broken, and the followed what they usually called the period of the Penal Laws.

"The purpose of those laws was to destroy the Catholic Faith among the Irish.

"In 1759-that is 68 years after the Treaty of Limerick-Lord Chancellor Bowes declared in court that 'the law did not presume a Papist to exist in the kingdom (Ireland), nor could they do so much as breathe there without the connivance of the Government.'

"During this long night of persecution the people never wavered in their devotion to the Mass. Priests went about disguised living in then houses of farmers, leaving confessions, teaching religion in the kitchens, saying Mass usually in the open air wherever there was a spot sufficiently lonely to escape the watchful eyes of the priest-hunter. If a priest were captured he would be condemned to imprisonment and transportation; should he return and be again captured, the penalty would be death.

MONUMENTS OF DEVOTION

The Mass-rocks were monuments to the devotion of both priests and people. In their own parish there was a Mass-rock at the place where the old Clanvaraghan church stood; another at Ballywillwill; a third at Drumnaquoile. At Dunmore, in the next parish, Mass used to be said all through the Penal days.

Two hundred years ago the Protestant Bishop of Down reported to the Government that there were five mass houses in the county. One of these five mass houses was the building, which stands on the border of the cemetery outside this church. Whether you go to Mass at Drumaroad or Clanvaraghan, you worship God in places, which should be doubly sacred to you, because there your forefathers showed their loyalty to the Mass in days of persecution.

There was another memorial of those days of which they should be very proud-the fragment of stone, which was inserted in the wall of this church. That fragment was part of the altar stone used y the Franciscans of Drumnaquoile. Its presence there reminded them of the devoted service of the Friars.

"You do not require to know very much about Irish history to understand how heroic a part of the Franciscan Order has taken in Ireland's defence of the faith. If you look through a list of the Irish martyrs, you will see the names of many sons of St. Francis.

FRIARS OF DOWNPATRICK COMMUNITY

"I have said," continued Father Rogers, "that almost the first Irish martyrs were three Friars of the Downpatrick community. Their brethren who escaped, who came in the course of time to settle in the townland of Drumnaquoile; there they and their successors remained until the end of the age of persecution. We can scarcely imagine what dangers and hardships they were called on to endure; we can only guess what their presence, what the example of their courage and self-sacrifice meant for the poor, suffering Catholics living around.

"It is over a hundred and forty years since the last Friar said Mass in Drumnaquoile, yet the memory of the Franciscans has never died out. There is no danger of it dying out now, since Father Cahill, among the many great works he has done for you, has formed a congregation which, I am happy to know, is ever increasing."

"It is peculiarly appropriate that, on such an occasion as this, there should be among us Father Canice, who not only represents the Third Order, of which he is Commissary Provincial, but is a member of the First Order, to which the people of this parish, and indeed the whole Irish people, owe so very much.

In time continued Rev. Dr. Rogers, the lot of Catholics improved. The Penal Law failed in their purpose, and the people were permitted to practise their religion openly. At Drumaroad the old Mass-House served the needs of the people until 1839, when the present church was built.

PROGRESSIVE PARISH

In 1877 the districts of Drumaroad and Clanvaraghan were taken from the parishes of Ballykinlar and Castlewellan respectively and formed into a parish. Today the parish is one of the most progressive in the diocese. In a great measure that is due to your present parish priest, Father Cahill. The new church at Clanvaraghan, only recently consecrated; the church here, so renovated as to be practically a new building, are outstanding tributes to his zeal and enterprise. But infinitely more important than churches is the religious spirit of a parish. The spirit-the spirit pf loyalty to the Faith, of devotion to the Mass-has been fostered by Father Cahill, but it was not created by him. It has come down to you from priests and people of the past. It is your most precious inheritance. Hold fast to it. You have your own temptations and trials, but as long as the same spirit lives in you, as lived in your fathers you need not fear. When today you pray in Mass for the repose of the souls of those who have gone before with the sign of the faith, pray also that God may ever keep you mindful of their loyalty, their perseverance, their abiding hope and trust in Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, and today, and for evermore.

At the blessing and dedication of the beautiful little grotto in the church grounds by Ven. Archdeacon M'Kenna, Very Rev. Fr. Canice, O.M.Cap., Church St., Dublin, preached an eloquent sermon on the Franciscan heritage, and said that the Grotto was the gift of the Archdeacon's sister (now deceased).

DEVOTION TO BLESSED VIRGIN

Throughout the years the Grotto would strengthen their devotion to the Blessed Virgin. As Rev. Dr. Rogers had pointed out, the Franciscans had devotedly laboured in the parish even through the cruel persecution of the Penal Days, and wherever they worked they pledged devotion to the Mother of God. Now amongst the parishioners of Drumaroad that glorious tradition was being perpetuated by Franciscan Tertiaries.

At the Grotto the Franciscan Crown was recited and a procession in honour of the Blessed Lady took place through the church grounds. Franciscan Tertiaries from the parish and from Belfast took part. At the conclusion solemn Benediction was given Ven. Archdeacon M'Kenna, the deacon being Rev. G. Macnamara, E.I., sub-deacon, Rev. J. Donaghy, S.M.A.

CLERGY PRESENT