Fr. Tom Shannon’s Sodality papers: Preparations for first Mass in English

PART ONE

By Tom Gillespie

THE late Fr. Tom Shannon spent 14 years as a curate in Castlebar, during which time he was responsible for the boys Sodality, to the members of which he wrote monthly typed letters.

From November 26, 1964, to July 12, 1971, he sent out 81 missives which, in learning of their existence, I approached their keeper, Ernie Sweeney, for permission to feature extracts from them in The Connaught Telegraph.

Monsignor Shannon (74) passed away on Friday, August 15, 2008, in Namibia, where he was visiting his sister Bridie in Africa.

Having been ordained on June 23, 1957, as a young priest he was appointed to Castlebar, with instructions to take charge of a choir of 40 boys and 20 men in the Church of the Holy Rosary. He was also in charge of the altar boys who at Masses responded in Latin.

In 1964 he set up a boys Sodality, of which we were members.

He remained in Castlebar until 1971 which marked two ordinations to the priesthood of Joe Quinn from Newantrim Street and Michael Neary from Blackfort.

As part of his work with the boys Sodality, Monsignor Shannon issued regular typed letters to the boys, which I have before me. To do so he had learn to type, a trait which saw him appointed as secretary to the then Archbishop of Tuam, Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Cunnane, a post he enjoyed for 13 years, the highlight of which was the visit by Pope John Paul II to Knock Shrine in 1979.

Then in 1984 he was appointed as Monsignor to Ballinrobe where he remained until his death 23 years later.

On February 23, 1965, Fr. Shannon wrote to the Sodality members: “As you know, Sunday, March 7, will be a big day in every Catholic Church throughout Ireland.

On that day, the people will answer and join with the priest in saying some parts of the Mass in English.

“Here in Castlebar, the boys Sodality Mass on that morning will be the very first Mass to be said in this way; and it will be your privilege, as a member of the Sodality, to take part in it.

“Naturally, I am more than anxious to have you prepared to take your part in the Mass, correctly and completely. For that reason, at our Sodality meeting on Sunday, February 28, I hope to go over the responses and prayers of the Mass with you. It will not take long - 15 minutes at the most.”

And in March 1965, he wrote: “I was more than pleased with the attendance at our last Sodality meeting. Without doubt, it was the best attended meeting so far: there were over 200 boys and young men present.

“I can tell you this: the whole parish were edified to see you all gathered together in order to prepare to take your part in the first Mass in English.

I am sure that you yourself were glad to be there and that in years to come you will look back on this meeting with pride and joy.

“You have done a great service to the parish and the Church; you have helped to put the Vernacular Mass on a sound footing.”