“I thought it would be marvellous to bring everyone together in a prayerful procession.”
A YOUNG Limerick man who recently fulfilled his mother’’s dying wish that he would visit Lourdes with his young daughter who has a developmental disorder, is currently finalising plans for a public procession through Limerick city on Saturday evening, September 8 at 8.15pm.
Speaking to the Limerick Post Philip Scanlon said that just before she passed away in Milford Hospice last year his mother’s last wish was that he would take Kayleigh to Lourdes.
“I did go to Lourdes with Kayleigh and it was wonderful – all and more than I had imagined.
“It was while we were there – I suppose it was the spiritual atmosphere of prayers and hymns – that I suddenly got the idea to organise a procession back in Limerick. during which we would say prayers and sing hymns and raise funds for Milford.
“I’m in the process of finalising arrangements and the procession will take place on Saturday, September 8, which coincidentally is the same date as my Mum’s birthday.”
Philip has written a hymn especially for the occasion.
“It’s an Ave Maria and it will be sung on the night by the well known Limerick singer, Gretta McCormack O’Shea who has put a choir of 25 adults and teenagers together for the occasion – its called, Friends of Milford and Sachi Leavy and Sophie O’Shea will be soloists on the night.
“Also featured on the CD are the Monks in Moyross.
“We will have CDs for sale and all proceeds will go directly to Milford.”.
The procession on Saturday, September 8 will follow on from Mass in St John’s Cathedral, which commences at 7.15pm.
“We expect the procession to get underway at 8.15pm.
“It will then proceed down John Street, then into Broad Street and over Baal’s Bridge, along Mary Street and into Nicholas Street from where the procession will proceed towards King John’s Castle and on to Thomond Bridge where we will observe a minute’s silence for all those who have lost their lives through suicide.
“The procession will then walk along Clancy Strand and on to Sarsfield Bridge, turning left from Sarsfield Street on to Arthur’s Quay Park where the choir will sing the hymn to Our Lady and offer up a prayer for everyone who has lost a loved one.
Asked what his motivation is for organising the procession, Philip said:
“I found Lourdes – the prayers, the hymns, the atmosphere, the procession there very moving and it meant so much to me that I had fulfilled my mum’s wish by visiting it and bringing my little girl, Kayleigh with me.
“It was a wonderful experience and I was so moved that I wrote the hymn.
“I though it would be marvellous to bring everyone together in a prayerful procession – especially anyone who has lost someone through suicide or through road carnage, both of which take so many young lives.”
Two women who are supporting Philip in his drive to make the procession a successful spiritual event that will not only raise funds for Milford but will also heighten awareness of the heartbreak caused by suicide and road traffic accidents, are Noreen Moore and Marian Bridgeman.
