Celebrations Planned to Welcome Home True Relics
By Noel Dundon
The parish of Holycross Ballycahill has gotten it’s identity back this week with the return of the stolen relics of the Holy Cross of Christ, which have been missing since October 11th last.
Rev Fr Celsus Tierney CC described the elation felt when news that the relics had been recovered by An Garda Siochana filtered through to the parish, and told Mass goers at the 9:00am Mass that the parish identity had been restored and was now intact once again.
PP, Rev Father Tom Breen told the congregation at the 11:00am Mass that October 11th had been etched on his brain and that he had had a very trying time since.
“I asked myself on so many occasions, why me? Why did this have to happen on my watch, so to speak. I cannot tell you all how elated I am at the return of the relics and the great news is that they are intact and in good condition,” said Fr Breen who has had a huge weight lifted from his shoulders .
The huge publicity generated nationally and locally by the theft of the relics certainly helped with the recovery process and Fr Breen received a call from An Garda Siochana last week informing him that a number of religious objects had been recovered. However, he was told not to get his hopes up, but was “overcome with joy” as soon as he saw the objects. He knew immediately that Holycross Abbey would be reunited with the ancient relics.
“I have absolutely no doubt that the power of prayer has helped to bring the relics back to Holycross. I received a phonecall from an elderly man, who would not say where he was from, but who told me that he didn’t go to bed at night without saying a prayer to the Holy Spirit for the safe return of the relics. His prayers, yours, and mine, have been answered,” he said.
The relics, a source of spiritual inspiration for thousands down through the decades were stolen from their display case in the Abbey on October 11th when armed and masked raiders cut through the steel casing with an angle grinder and made off with two priceless crosses. However, while the relics are priceless in terms of religious value and significance, their actual monetary value is quite small.
Locals, who had been left distraught by the actions of the thieves, were this week celebrating the news that the relics have been recovered and will make their way back to the historic and very popular Holycross Abbey – a very popular wedding venue for people from all over Ireland. Their place of worship will once again be enhanced by the presence of the relics which contain a piece of the cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified.
A special Celebratory Mass is being planned for Sunday February 19th at 11:00am and an invitation has been extended to all to come and welcome back the relics to their home.
“I cannot thank the Gardai enough for their efforts in the investigation. I think they have done a wonderful service to the community and they are deserving of our praise. The people of the parish and the wider community too deserve mention for their support. I received e-mails from all over the world offering support – from as far away as Canada, the USA, Korea and Brussels. To them all, we own a big debt of gratitude for helping to keep our spirit up when days were dark,” Fr Breen said.
The Abbey had been promised another relic from the Urusline Convent in Blackrock, County Cork following the theft. This announcement was made at Mass on Christmas Eve and was warmly received by parishioners. However, the very generous and decent gesture on the part of the Ursulines will now not be necessary. The stolen were recovered in the Midlands following a search and though they have been described as being “weather beaten”, they are still in good condition.
“Our prayers have been answered,” said one local, while another described the news as being “a fantastic start to the new year.” There was a real atmosphere of elation in the parish when news filtered through that the Gardai had recovered the relics and locals were very appreciative of their huge efforts. It really was a coup on their part.
The relics have been displayed in public for many years in Holycross Abbey, but it is now expected this will have to be reviewed in light of the theft. They have been seen and handled by thousands of pilgrims down through the years with the annual Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help resulting in flocks of people venerating the relics and blessing themselves with them. And, while the disappearance of the relics was a shattering blow to the local community, it did manage to bring it’s significance into the spotlight and helped reiginite a sense of pride in Holycross and that which gives the parish it’s unique identity. There are many Holycross’ dotted around the country – but not with relics of the True Cross in situ.
Archbishop Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly had called for the return of the relics following their disappearance and is delighted that they have been returned to their rightful place in the heart of Holycross Abbey.
In a statement to The Tipperary Star, Archbishop Clifford said: “It is truly wonderful that the precious Relics of the one True Cross from Holy Cross Abbey have been found, relatively undamaged, through the sterling efforts of the Garda Siochana. On behalf of the people of the Diocese of Cashel & Emly may I express our thanks to the Gardai. This is a joyous day and one for which thousands of people had been praying for since the Relics were stolen last October. It is still a mystery to us all as to why the Relics were stolen as they had little monetary value. However we must now find measures to protect the Relics,” he said.
An on-going Garda investigation continues into the theft.