Leitrim Parish marks 200 years of faith at Newtownmanor Church

Parishioners gathered recently to celebrate the Bi-Centenary of the Church of Mary Mother of God in Newtownmanor, on Sunday, June 22, a date which, from a Roman Catholic liturgical perspective, coincided with the Feast of Corpus Christi (The Body of Christ).

A large crowd assembled for the Mass of Thanksgiving, presided over by Bishop Martin Hayes of the Diocese of Kilmore. Following the Mass, attendees continued celebrating the historic event in Newtownmanor Hall.

Bishop Hayes delivered a thought-provoking and uplifting homily reflecting on the history of the church, the state of Catholicism in Ireland today, and the significance of marking the 200th anniversary of the church's founding, spanning from 1825 to 2025.

“The layout of this church is an illustration of what it is to gather around the Table of the Lord; people and priests gathered around the altar, achieved in the innovative refurbishment of 1990, led by Fr Patsy Young R.I.P.

“The church itself is set amid the beauty of creation, between O’Rourke’s Table and the picturesque valley below,” Bishop Hayes remarked during the Gospel.

“We gather in this church in its 200th year, in this place that has evolved over time. We are here to celebrate our belonging together as the Body of Christ called to reach out to others on mission. We give thanks today for the initiative of Fr Thomas Ford and the local parishioners of 200 years ago.”

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Bishop Hayes shared some of the church’s history, noting that Fr Thomas Ford and the parishioners were supported by Lady Whyte, a devout French Canadian Catholic and wife of the local landlord, Col. JJ Whyte. 

Their efforts were significantly strengthened by the wider movement led by Daniel O’Connell, particularly through his collaboration with the Catholic Church and the Catholic Association, which helped fund his campaign for Catholic Emancipation in 1829.

“All that was happening throughout Ireland in the 1820s gave the people of Newtownmanor the courage to give witness to their Catholic faith with the building of this church,” Bishop Hayes remarked.

Gratitude was expressed to previous generations for preserving the Church of Mary Mother of God as a sacred place of worship across the 1800s and 1900s, where Mass and the Eucharist have long been celebrated.

Bishop Hayes also acknowledged the current challenges facing the Kilmore Diocese, including a decline in vocations, fewer people responding to the full expression of baptismal calling, fewer parishioners, and fewer priests.

Nevertheless, he offered hope in the form of 21 lay people preparing to complete their discernment as Lay Pastoral Ministers. They are set to begin studies at Maynooth this September and will take up parish placements in January.

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“We give thanks for our faith, for our gathering here today, for all of you involved in preparing this 200th celebration.

“May we in celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Church of Mary Mother of God, in rejoicing in Corpus Christi today, the gift of the Eucharist which we receive in Holy Communion,become what we receive: the Body of Christ, the eyes, the ears, the hands, and the feet of Christ for each other and for future generations,” Bishop Hayes concluded.

Bishop Martin Hayes with Father Paul and Father Gerry