2011 Remembrance Mass For Lost Loved Ones To Suicide

Avril Quinn (PRO, Breaking The Silence), Justice Michael Pattwell (Patron, Breaking The Silence), Niamh Humphries (Breaking The Silence), Marion Horgan (Composer of song “Breaking The Silence”, Musician & Teacher), Paul Devlin (Treasurer, Breaking The Silence), Vivienne Leahy (Breaking The Silence), Jimmy Losty (Trainer, Breaking The Silence), Catherine Curran (Breaking The Silence), Father Pat Moran (OSA & St. Augustine’s Church), Sarah Maguire (Secretary, Breaking The Silence), John Mansworth (Chairperson, Breaking The Silence), Carol Doran Maher (Breaking The Silence), John Lawlor (Trainer, Breaking The Silence), Kate Cullinane Perryman (Young Breaking The Silence) and John O’Gorman (Aware).

Sunday 6^th February 2011 saw people from across Cork City and County come together in a special remembrance mass for lost loved ones to Suicide.  This concept originally started with a group called Save Our Sons and Daughters (SOSAD) in Drogheda in 2006 and this year was the first year that the mass took place in Cork, in addition to other locations across Ireland.  The mass was organised by Fr. Pat Moran OSA at St. Augustine’s Church, Washington Street, Cork City with assistance from Cobh based voluntary group Breaking The Silence.  Fr. Moran spread the word about the mass amongst the many parishes across Cork, organised for the Cork Garda Choir to sing at the massand personally invited people from various Support Groups such as Aware, Living Links and The Samaritans in addition to organising Pat Doyle, Educational Psychologist to give a very moving sermon.

Breaking The Silence were delighted to be involved in assisting with the event and the voluntary group work to create a Suicide Safer Community by connecting the person at risk of Suicide with life preserving resources.  For the mass, the group worked closely with Fr. Moran to reach out to as many people as possible to make them aware that the mass was taking place.  Group members assisted with readings, prayers of the faithful, the offertory procession and welcoming people to the mass with special candles and remembrance books.  Breaking The Silence Patron Justice Michael Pattwell was also involved and a special message from Cork Senior GAA Football Player Graham Canty was read by Fr. Moran, as the team have been very supportive of Breaking The Silence.  They also were delighted when a local Cobh Musician, Marion Horgan (who works as a secondary school Teacher) wrote a very special piece of music for the group called “Breaking The Silence”.  This piece was sang beautifully at the mass by Young Breaking The Silence member Kate Cullinane Perryman and both Marion and Alan Carney accompanied Kate with magnificent music.  Over 1200 people attended the mass and hundreds of people watched online (www.staugustinescork.ie).  It is hoped that the mass will be an annual occasion and Father Moran would be delighted to host the mass again next year.

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