There have been many ceremonies at the Memorial, but this will be the first Mass.
Ireland is dotted with them. They’re called Carraig an Aifrinn, or Mass rocks. They’re stones that marked the spot in the mid-17th century where Catholic priests risked their lives to serve Mass for the faithful during the time of Cromwell. Under the Penal Law of 1695, Catholics were not permitted to hold vote or hold public office. The Catholic clergy was expelled from the country, and those who were found (often by people called “priest hunters”) could be executed. Catholics were not permitted to worship–at least, in the open.
While the Irish Memorial at Penns Landing is no Carraig an Aifrinn, on Sunday, June 22, you’ll be forgiven if the resemblance between the coal-black Glenna Goodacre sculpture of Irish immigrants and those holy stones occurs to you. At 10 AM, a special Mass will be said by Father John Kelly of St. Martin of Tours Parish in Northeast Philadelphia prior to the Penns Landing Irish Festival, which starts at noon. (Father Kelly is the uncle of young local singer Timmy Kelly, who will be performing at the Penns Landing festival.)
Local Irish traditional musicians Dennis Gormley, Mary Malone, and Jeff Meade will play and Karen Boyce McCollum and Phil Bowdren will sing at the service.
“This is the first Mass at the Irish Memorial and will hopefully provide a bridge between the unwavering faith of our Irish ancestors who risked life and limb to celebrate the Eucharist at the ‘Mass Rock’ and today’s Delaware Valley Irish Community,” said Robert Gessler, a member of the board of directors of the Irish Memorial, Inc.
Gessler says the group is considering another mass—this one of remembrance—in the fall.
The Irish Memorial is located at Front and Chestnut Streets.
