From Mayo Abbey Parish Magazine 1994

It gives me much pleasure to congratulate the parishioners who have produced this first issue of "Mayo Abbey Parish News." "The Catechism of the Catholic Church" was published on October 11th. 1992, the thirtieth Anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, says:

”A Parish is a definite Community of the Christian faithful established on a stable basis within a particular Church. The Pastoral age of the parish is entrusted to a pastor as its own shepherd, the authority of the diocesan bishop. It is the place where all the faithful can be gathered together for the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist. The Parish initiates the Christian people into the ordinary expression of the liturgical life. It gathers them together in this celebration. It teaches Christ's saving doctrine, it practices the Charity of the Lord, in good works and brotherly love”.

The Parish of Mayo and Rosslea was established in 668 AD for Saxon Monks, by St Colman, a disciple of St Columcille of Iona. St Colman was Bishop of Lindisfarne. In its long history, the following were some who visited here and preached the word of God here: St Gerald, Bishop; Adamnan, 9th Abbot of Iona; Willibord, The Saxon Apostle of Friesland; William Prendergast, OFM.; Martin Camparia, O Gst; Simm de Duren, O Csm.; Nicholas Wogomai, OFM.; John Bell, Bishop, Suffragan of Canterbury; William Gilbert, OSB., Bishop of Bath and Wells; Eugene MacBrehan, O Carm.; Patrick O' Healy, OFM; Bishop. Con O'Rourke, OFM.

Bishop Patrick O' Healy and Fr. Con O' Rourke were Beatified, 27th. September, 1992 by Pope John Paul II in the presence of a representative gathering of the faithful of the Universal Church in an open air Solemn Mass in St Peter's Square. I recall these names to remind us that Christ's Saving doctrine has been preached here for thirteen hundred years. Our graveyards are a sign of Hope that the uncounted multitudes who have heard that saving doctrine, and lived by it, are interceding for us all before the Throne of God.

In more recent times, Mass was celebrated on the Feast of Jesus Christ, Universal King, in 1993 and was broadcast live over the Mid-West Radio Station. The choir was conducted by Monsignor Charles Scahill, Balla. The organist was Miss Marian Hughes, now Mrs. Michael J Mullen. The readers were Mr Martin O'Gara and Miss Geraldine Hughes, now Mrs James C Heffernan. The intention of the Mass was "Peace in Ireland". It is our heartfelt prayer that the intention of that Mass will be finally established.

I wish all Parishioners and all who have contributed to the publication of this magazine, and all who read it God's abundant Blessings.

Patrick McDermott Parish Priest, Mayo and Rosslee, December 1994