The Feast of the Most Holy Trinity: 31.05.26
Mass @ 11am – Duiske Abbey, Graignamanagh
Presentation of Benemerenti Papal Honours:
- Kathleen Fenlon
- Bridget Flood
- Nicholas O’Carroll
- John & Mary O’Neill
- Mary Hayden
Introduction:
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with you all”[1].
… this morning’s second reading signs off, words that are familiar to all of us, as they shape the Introductory Rite in every celebration of Mass. It is Trinity Sunday. The Ordinary of Church time recommenced last Monday. Trinity Sunday interrupts the early flow of the Ordinary, to remind us of the essentials of our faith.
The ‘Sign of the Cross’ is that first prayer we learned at home, maybe on a parent’s lap before we ever stepped inside Baby Infants class. The ‘Sign of the Cross’ is the last prayer prayed over us as we are laid to rest.
It is always a great joy to visit and celebrate Mass here in the splendid Duiske Abbey. Thanks to Fr. Mark for the very kind invitation to join you this morning. On this Feast of the Most Holy Trinity we take a moment to honour six parishioners who give sterling service to the parish communities of Graignamanagh and Skeaghvosteen – Kathleen Fenlon; Bridget Flood; Nicholas O’Carroll, John & Mary O’Neill and Mary Hayden.
Like Moses in that Exodus Reading, we stand on holy ground, we pray in silence in the knowledge that our Lord is “a God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in kindness”[2] …
- Is tusa Tobar na Trócaire – You are the wellspring of mercy:
A Thiarna, déan trócaire.
- Is tusa Slí na Fírinne – You are the way of Truth:
A Chríost, déan trócaire.
- Bí linn i gconaí, ós ár gcomhair amach – Be with us always, showing us the way. A Thiarna, déan trócaire.
Homily:
In the dark of night, a cautious diplomat from Jerusalem meets an outspoken prophet from Galilee. Nicodemus has a lot to consider, he is unwilling to be seen with Jesus, it risks his potential career pathway, tainted by association. Jesus understands his hesitancy and addresses it not with more subterfuge but with a powerful affirmation of love. God loves everyone, including Nicodemus and his ilk and Jesus tells him so. The Trinity relationship is rooted in love.
Trinity Sunday invites us, like Nicodemus, into a relationship with God, Father, Son and Spirit. It’s a relationship that allows us, no matter who we are, to meet the Father and His compassion and understanding for us, even when we feel completely beyond such an encounter. He is full of mercy, always awaiting the prodigals return. It’s a relationship that allows us to meet the Son and recognize ourselves in His pain and story of sacrifice. And it’s a relationship that encounters the Spirit, breathing new energy, new life into our tired and very often broken and bruised lives.
The ‘Sign of the Cross’ we make several times everyday reminds us how much God actually loves us! Pope Francis suggested that today’s feast calls us to spread God’s love throughout the world. We are to become intentional missionaries, with a message going out from this twelfth century Abbey, from every church, chapel or wherever Mass is celebrated this Sunday morning, that no matter who you are, you are invited into this relationship.
The “Sign of the Cross” is the prayer I start and end each day. In fact several times I bless myself. I bless myself last thing at night and first thing in the morning. Passing any church or cemetery. Passing the home where my deceased parents lived, I bless myself, thinking of the faith they passed on. Standing on the street as a hearse passes. Passing the place where there was a road accident or a spot on the Barrow where someone has just left fresh flowers. The blessing is a prayer in itself, someone remembered, someone missed, someone loved.
Every parish community is blessed with volunteers, often their work goes hidden or unnoticed. Graignamanagh and Skeaghvasteen have an abundance of volunteers who work for the parish. There is the danger with conversations around larger Pastoral Areas and clustering, that the narrative can be one of retrenchment, focusing at times on what is being lost or will have to change, there is also a good story of so many who help in life of every parish.
Speaking in Naples recently, Pope Leo paid tribute to the “everyday heroes, men and women who work quietly for justice, truth and dignity. Their efforts must never remain isolated”[3]. Similarly, speaking to the Italian bishops conference on Thursday last, Pope Leo said “Jesus, looking on the crowd, does not see a problem to solve; He sees a harvest … A synodal church is one in which everyone, according to his/her vocation, can offer the gifts received from the Holy Spirit for the common building up of the church. Participation is not optional, it is a requirement of communion and mission and must therefore become our method, our responsibility and our accountability. God does not measure the fruitfulness of the Church according to numbers, visibility or influence. God enters the world day after day and “scatters” in people’s hearts the desire for the infinite, for a life fulfilled. Thanks to God the “harvest” is abundant“[4].
Lots of people help in the life of the parish community, in liturgical moments, in the Mass, in finance, administration, safeguarding, organising and most especially, we all can exercise our vocation in prayer. So many join in the work of God through their prayer, attending Mass. Helping in the parish can span a wide spectrum from a few hours a year to many, many years of countless hours as we celebrate today. Each hour, each minute, is precious, is vital to God’s work and is seen by God. Circumstances in life often influence how much time/help we can give, e.g. work commitments, family circumstances, health etc. But it all so important. The Church/our faith gives us all a way of sharing in the work of God through the Eucharist, being united with the Lord here in prayer in our Churches, Skeaghvasteen and Duiske Abbey. Here this morning we are all doing the work of God in gathering at this Mass. Today, our Benemerenti recipients are honoured for their many years of service to the parish. For the most part in the background of parish life. Often unnoticed, unexpected, called upon at all hours to help.
Mary Hayden, Registrar of Our Lady of Lourdes Church cemetery at Skeaghvasteen for over 25 years. I understand Mary is in hospital today and can’t be here. Bereavement is always a sensitive time, turmoil, upset. Practicalities come to the fore, Mary dealt with parishioners over the years with sensitivity, compassion, understanding and discretion. Callers to her house seeking her help in their loss. Keeping the records of the graves etc, an unseen and often unacknowledged work. The new committee that has taken up the work she did is in place. It has taken four to replace her!
John & Mary O’ Neill. Mary as Skeaghvasteen Church sacristan for over 40 years. John leading the Skeaghvasteen choir for over 30 years. Both helping with maintenance and care of the church also, people for whom the word “No” is not in their vocabulary. It’s far too easy to take for granted the work of people, especially in our rural churches.
Bid and Kathleen Flood, Duiske Abbey Altar Society. Leading the care of the Altar area for about 26 years, and so much else in church – recently volunteered as part of the Sacristy volunteer sacristans, also helping with the Funeral Refreshments in the Abbey Hall after funerals – a marvellous service to bereaved families- baking and cooking for hours before hand. A parishioner remarked during the week that “Kathleen’s Car – a Toyota Yaris – knows its way to Abbey Street, all she has to do is sit in and turn the key” it has done the journey so many times for so much work here!
Nicholas O’ Carroll, St Vincent de Paul Conference member for over 40 years. A lay – led organisation in the church that works in the background helping, listening, supporting, representing. Secretly, quietly, unnoticed but not by God.
The total years of service of all six to the Parish community is about 160 years. Thank you all for that work. I always take this opportunity to thank all who help, it’s not possible to give Benemerenti’s to everybody. Many deserve them. Today, Skeaghvasteen and Graignamanagh’s hidden team are acknowledged. But so many others are involved. Mass today is a time of thanksgiving for them all. Today is also an occasion to make an appeal to the wider parish, if you can help, do not be afraid to volunteer. Do not worry if you can only give an hour or two, as Pope Leo said, it’s not about numbers. So don’t be afraid now, or sometime in the future if you see some way you can help, have some suggestion or are asked directly to assist, don’t miss the moment.
On this Trinity Sunday, in the oldest church in our diocese, let us think for a moment back to the Cistercian monks who traced the Sign of the Cross on the foreheads of the destitute and the poor who made their way up to this Abbey. On Trinity Sunday we gather to remember. To speak of the mystery of God as Trinity is to speak of a God who relates, who reaches out. As the Croatian writer Miroslav Volf writes “the Christian God is not a lonely God, but rather a communion of three persons … communion with this God is at once also communion with others who have entrusted themselves in faith to the same God”[5]. As our predecessors gathered here in a time of persecution, they too realized their God was not a lonely God, and they weren’t either. Christian hope is not some idle optimism, but something rooted in the belief that Christ has risen, as we said on Easter Sunday “Christ has truly Risen!”
As we celebrate the God who is love, let us also remember this morning those who first traced the sign of the Cross on our forehead – our parents, the priest who baptised us, our first teacher in Junior or Baby Infants. Many now in eternity. May they this day enjoy the understanding of the Father, the forgiveness of the Son and rest in the communion of the Spirit. And may our six Benemerenti recipients be richly rewarded. Amen.
[1] 2 Cor. 13:13
[2] Ex. 34:6
[3] Vatican News, 23 May 2026
[4] Vatican News, Address to Bishops of the Italian Episcopal Conference, 28 May 2026
[5] Volf, Miroslav: ‘After Our Likeness; The Church as the Image of the Trinity’, Eerdmans, 1998, pg. 173.