St Finian's, Newcastle: Bicentenary Mass
Sunday, 16 June 2013, 3 p.m.
Chief Celebrant: Archbishop Diarmuid Martin
On Monday, 5th July 1813, the foundation stone of the church of St Finian, Newcastle Lyons, was blessed and laid, an event that was reported in the Freeman's Journal on the 14th. A 'considerable concourse of the people', it said, was present to witness the blessing of the stone for the 'new chapel', carried out by the Rev. Andrew Hart, parish priest of the 'united parishes of Saggart, Rathcoole and Newcastle'. This was followed by the laying of the stone 'with the usual solemnity’ by Valentine Lawless, second Lord Cloncurry.
A photo of this page will be brought up as part of the Offertory procession at tomorrow's Mass. After Mass, the blessing of a commemorative stone will take place. You are very welcome to attend and so be part of the concourse of the parishioners of today, all of two hundred years later.
You can see the date in Roman numerals at the bottom of the plaque high up above the front door of the church, under the vent, as seen in the photo below.
The lettering is: DEO OPT MAX / sub invocatione /
SANCTI FINIAN / A. D. MDCCCXIII. (To God, the Best and the Greatest, in the name of St Finian, AD 1813)
