THE NEW BELL - TOWER IN BALLINA CO. MAYO
The new bell-tower in the grounds of St. Patrick’s Church Ballina, which was blessed by Bishop John Fleming at a special Eucharist there on Trinity Sunday, June 19th 2011, is designed to commemorate and pay tribute to the work of the Mercy Sisters since their coming to Ballina on October 14th 1851.
Artists Impression (1) Axo Architects, Castlebar
On that date, five Mercy Sisters and a postulant made the historic journey by horse-drawn carriage from Sligo to Ballina. As the years passed, many more young women from all over Ireland, many in their teens, 191 in total, joined the original small Mercy Community and all are now remembered in the elements of the design of the new bell-tower in the following way.
The large stone plinth tells the story of the foundation of the Convent (The foundation stone of the Convent was laid on September 13 1863)
Slits and chinks in the stone represent the challenges and suffering of the Sisters.
The stone foundation also forms a seat representing the Sisters’ generosity and selflessness.
The stainless strips represent the Mercy Sisters – ONE FOR EACH SISTER.
The tower represents the Sisters’ contribution to education.
The two horizontal blocks represent the Sisters’ contribution to health and to the poor.
A few free-standing stones represent the arrival of the Sisters from Sligo.
The solid block represents the other Sisters who joined them later.
The Mercy cross in the window of the tower represents the work of the Mercy Sisters, day and night, for 160 years.
The detail of the design of the bell-tower, not least the aforementioned Mercy cross, is a heart- warming tribute to all of us Mercy Sisters and it enables us, in yet another way, to be one with all who preceded us. Artists Impression (2) Axo Architects, Castlebar
When St. Patrick’s Church was being built in the mid 1970s, a bell-tower was part of the original design. Unfortunately, due to lack of funds, it was not feasible then. now, fortunately, a most appropriate time has arrived and it has been well availed of. Ins na blianta romhainn, people listening to this bell, will be reminded of Séan Mhaitias, in a shuí le hais a dhorais ag éisteacht le glór glé glinn clog an Aifrinn! …(IOSAGAN: Padraig Mac Piarais)
By coincidence, the first reading for the Mass that day was from Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9, which describes Moses ascending the mountain of Sinai in the early morning with two tablets of stone as the Lord had commanded him. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, the Lord, a God of tenderness and compassion, “If I have indeed won your favour Lord, let my Lord come with us, I beg. True, they are a headstrong people, but forgive us our faults and our sins, and adopt us as your heritage.”
Bishop John Fleming with Parish Council, Fr Brendan Hoban, Bourke Builders & Sr Martina Barrett RSM Bishop’s homily:
During his homily the Bishop said that the tower “is a monument to and a reminder of the enormous contribution made by the Sisters during the years they have worked in our midst for the betterment of our community. He said, “On this day, therefore, as Bishop and in the name of my predecessors, I want to pay a particular tribute to the Sisters who, since 1851, namely for one hundred and sixty years, have provided education and health care for the people of this town and its surrounding area, together with Skreen, Ballycastle, Belmullet, Dublin in this country and San Diego, Ethiopia, Brazil, Kenya, Peru overseas. From humble beginnings as teachers of religion in the Cathedral and as carers in Ballina workhouse, they have given a series of lifetimes, with complete selflessness, to the welfare of the people of this diocese.” Then he went on to recall that the Irish Annals record a long association between St. Patrick and sacred bells, in particular his custom of leaving a small hand -bell in every Church which he consecrated. “This bell-tower however, is not just a monument to the past. It will be an invitation for the future …It will toll for generations to come to mark the presence of Christians in our midst, even if in decreased numbers. ...The bells will mark all the significant moments of the Christian life and, above all, they will remind us of the Eternal, the presence and the love of God in our midst.’’
.. In her address after the Eucharist, Sr. Martina Barrett, member of the Ballina community and presently member of the Mercy Provincial team, thanked Fr. Brendan Hoban, parish priest of Ballina . She also thanked the Parish Council. “Firstly, I want to congratulate the creative minds that came up with such a unique way of honouring our ministry contribution to the diocese since 1851. It is,” she said, “unique among the ways that Mercy sisters are being acknowledged in the various diocese throughout the country. The bell-tower, as we have seen, tells the story of the different ways we tried to mediate God’s mercy in the parish and diocese over the past 160 years. But” she said, “we are very conscious that we did not come into a vacuum. It was because there was already a faithfilled people in Ballina that we were able to begin our ministry here. We are very confident Past & Present Sisters & Staff that with a faithfilled people the works of Mercy will continue long after we are all gone.” Sr Martina paid tribute to the Mercy Associates in the diocese – people who are steeped in the spirit of our Foundress Catherine McAuley and who continue their Christian living in the privacy of their own homes. … Sr Martina continued, “Thanks to the strong tradition of partnership between people, clergy and sisters in all the parishes we have been in, ‘handing on’ schools as well as many of our other Mercy ministries happened in a seamless way. The greatest testimony to the success of our work, is that it can now continue without us. It was our privilege to water the seeds we found, to scatter other seeds and then give way to others to continue the harvest.” She then thanked the people of the various parishes in which the Sisters lived and worked.
The Gospel Choir sang during the Eucharist in their usual, full-throated way and it added immensely to the occasion, for which Sr. Martina thanked them sincerely. Finally, she thanked the Parish Council, Bishop John, Father Brendan and his team and all the priests present with us. She had a special word of gratitude “for this unique way of honouring us and ensuring that the work of God’s grace in us is remembered by future generations.”
Afterwards, we, the Sisters were guests at a delicious lunch in the Downhill hotel at which there was a palpable energy and sense of rejoicing. It was truly a joy-filled occasion, a fitting ending to a very fitting and dignified tribute. DEO GRATIAS!
Fatima, Attracta RSM & Patsy
Text: Phyllis Surlis RSM. Artist Impression - Axo Architects, Castlebar used with permission