More than 2,000 people pack into St Augustine's Church for closing Mass
Over 2,000 parishioners gathered at St Augustine’s Church in Cork for its final Mass after 750 years of history. The Augustinian Order is currently negotiating the future of the building, with hopes to avoid demolition.
Why it matters
The closure of historic religious sites marks a significant shift in the cultural and social landscape of local communities.
Around 2,000 parishioners pack St Augustine’s Church as they follow the final procession from the altar, with worshippers filling every available space inside the church. Picture: Chani Anderson
Donal O’Keeffe St Augustine’s Church seats 1,200, but with Sunday’s faithful literally out the doors onto Washington St and the Grand Parade for the Augustinian Order’s final Mass in Cork, one priest estimated the congregation was close to 2,000.
In his homily, Fr Paddy O’Reilly, Vicar Provincial of the Augustinian Order in Ireland, offered hope, but scant details.
“We do not know clearly what the future will bring, but a future there will be, even for this church building,” he said.
“Negotiations are ongoing, and will take time, and if all goes according to plan, there will no bulldozers moving in here.”
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