Simply the vest

THE finishing touches were being made to the vestments that the Bishop Elect Fr Kieran O’Reilly will wear for his ordination at the Poor Clare Sisters’ Convent in Ennis this week.

The important job was entrusted to Sr Gabrielle Murphy, who was ably assisted in completing the task by local woman, Maureen Sanders, who has always been to the fore in helping with parish work.
The same team also made the ordination robes for Bishop Willie Walsh in 1994, vestments which he still has to this day. The first ordination robes the pair worked on together were those of the former auxiliary bishop of Dublin, Fiachra Ó Ceallaigh.
Sr Gabrielle makes vestments for priests in the convent on a regular basis and is respected for the care and precision she uses in this work, while Maureen admits that she is a dab-hand at sewing and has been entrusted with making wedding dresses for a number of her relatives over the years.
Ennis parish administrator, Fr Tom Hogan, explained that Fr O’Reilly had been promised vestments from some of his colleagues in Nigeria but there was no confirmation that they would come on time for the ordination, so it was decided that it was better to have new vestments made for the bishop elect for the occasion.
Sr Gabrielle explained that Fr O’Reilly asked for simple vestments, nothing too ornate but specified that he would like a celtic cross design. “The material we used for the vestments is a linen-effect ivory material. The cross is in a burgundy shade with a gold leatherette inset, and is done in applique. The robe is a gothic full-length garment,” she added.
The ladies also designed and made the mitre for the bishop elect and this is made from melchior which Sr Gabrielle sourced in England. “The mitre also has a cross in burgundy and a gold braid,” she said.
Great care was exercised by Sr Gabrielle and Maureen in making the vestments and the mitre, so much so that much of the stitching was done by hand. They were honoured to make the new bishop’s vestments. “It is a privilege to be asked to make the ordination vestments for our new bishop and we feel that it’s nice because we also made them for Bishop Willie Walsh’s ordination, so there is a sense of continuity in that way. We are delighted that the job is finished now and that Fr O’Reilly is happy with the result. He said that he wanted it simple and we were mindful of that. He has fitted it on but hasn’t looked in a mirror to see it on himself,” Maureen said.
Fr Hogan said that he is very impressed with the ladies and that they did a wonderful job, which he is sure the bishop will be very happy wearing on the important occasion of his ordination. 
Sr Gabrielle and Maureen said that they will be very proud when they see him wearing the vestments at his ordination on Sunday week. “We were very anxious about getting it right. For me, it’s the nearest I’ll get to making a gown for a wedding, so it’s nice. I will be touched to see him wearing it next week,” Sr Gabrielle added.
The vestments are now hanging safely in the Poor Clare Convent, where Sr Gabrielle will ensure they are kept in pristine condition.

Everything’s going according to plan
PREPARATIONS are now well in hand for the ordination of the Diocese’s new Bishop, Fr Kieran O’Reilly, in Ennis Cathedral on Sunday, August 28 at 3pm.
Fr Tom Hogan, parish administrator in Ennis, said that while the ordination is very much a diocesan ordination, a lot of the work and preparations are being handled by Ennis Parish. He explained that up to 200 parishioners from throughout the entire diocese will be involved in the ceremony, representing all 58 parishes.
In recent weeks, extensive preparations have been made in Ennis Cathedral, in the form of painting and thorough cleaning. A committee is also working hard on arranging floral decoration of the cathedral, which will follow a burgundy, in keeping with the design of the ordination booklet and aspects of the new bishop’s ordination vestments.
A lot of organisation has also gone into the music and performance element of the ceremony, with top class talented musicians, dancers and contributors all helping to make the occasion special and memorable. Among the musicians participating in the ceremony will be Ennis Brass Band, the Dole Quarter, Cantare Chamber Choir, the Cathedral Choir, the Friary Choir, St Joseph’s Choir, a traditional Irish group from Cois na hAbhna with local musicians. There will also be a dance element to the ceremony, with Irish dancing and African dance. “The bishop elect wanted the African presence in our diocese to be represented so these dancers will have a very significant role to play in the ceremony,” Fr Hogan said.
The local FCA troupe will form a guard of honour in the vicinity of the Cathedral before and after the ceremony, as well as local scouts troupe, the first and fourth units of Clare Scouts, who will form the guard of honour outside the Cathedral. “The significance of the scouts is that Fr O’Reilly has been a scout since he was 13 years old and wants to mark that aspect of his life”.
As well as the country’s archbishops and bishops, there will also be seven visiting bishops from Africa, who are colleagues of Fr O’Reilly’s from his missionary work in African nations.
The main celebrant of the ordination will be Archbishop Dermot Clifford of Cashel and Emly, assisted by Bishop Willie Walsh.
Fr Hogan said that preparations for the occasion are very well in hand. “People from throughout the parish and the diocese have been extremely generous and gone out of their way to give their time to help. This is a very big deal for the diocese, but especially for Ennis. It’s a bit like a very big wedding that a number of very committed people help to organise. It has been all hands on deck for some time now and I am quite confident that the occasion will be beautiful and very memorable,” he commented.