News & Reflections
Limerick December 18th 2011 - A city centre location has many advantages for the Augustinian church in Limerick but the lack of parking space for the praying patrons is a growing problem, especially on Sundays which are now the busiest shopping days in the city. Recently our regular Remembrance Service for mothers and families who have lost babies through miscarriage had to be transferred to the Holy Rosary Church, Ennis Road where there is ample space for parking and easier access.
We are still involved with the Staff of the Regional Maternity Hospital in the creation of the ceremony and leading it at the new venue. The liturgy is a mixture of symbol and story, reflection and music which acknowledges the real pain of people who never got a chance to grieve in the past and those recently bereaved in this way.
What began as a fumbling response to the alarming problem of suicide has grown into a huge gathering at the Augustinian church at the end of November each year. A Celebration of Light takes place in the shadow of Christmas, the most difficult time for those bereaved by suicide. With the help of the support group called Console a liturgical journey from darkness into light brings some strength and consolation to those devastated by the loss of a loved one through suicide. The language of symbol speaks to feelings for which there are now words, Churched and unchurched find common ground in their anguish and eternal questions.