The inspiration for the icon of St. Eugene came from his image in the great window of St. Eugene's Cathedral in Derry.
St. Eugene was born early in the 6th century.
His father was from Leinster and his mother an Ulsterwoman from the area around the Mourne river near Castlederg. Legend tells us he was taken as captive to Britain as a boy and after his release studied at St. Ninian's Monastery at Rosnat in Whitherne. He founded a monastery at Swords near Dublin and 3 others in the north before establishing the Ardstraw monastery. Here the Abbot Eugene was consecrated Bishop, as signified in the icon by the bishop's vestments over the inner habit of the monk. In his hand he holds a representation of the monastery of Ardstraw.
Many legends affirm St. Eugene's association with angels. The angel in the emblem on the top right hand of the icon holds a broken chain, a symbol of Eugene's release from captivity. The angels hold the book, said to have been transported from Eugene's altar in Ardstraw to the altar of his friend Coipre, Bishop of Colerain, who had requested its loan.
Greencastle in the Sperrin foothills has a scattered population on its small farms. Up to the early years of the 20th century there were many Gaelic speakers in the area and around 1910 it had an Irish College. The parish is quite rich in archeological remains, including an Ogham Stone. Settlement patterns similar to the Beaghmore stone circles, which border the parish, and the Ceide Fields of North Mayo, are evident.
Noble Story - A Short History
of the Diocese of Derry (John R. Walsh)
Mass Schedule
Sundays Saint Patrick's Church, Greencastle: Vigil (Saturday) 6.00pm, 9.00am Our Lady of the Wayside, Broughderg: 11.00am
Holy Days of Obligation Saint Patrick's Church, Greencastle: 11.00am Our Lady of the Wayside, Broughderg: Vigil 8.00pm
Week Days Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday: 10.00am Friday: 8.00pm
Confession Schedule
Saint Patrick's Church, Greencastle: Eve of First Friday: 7.30pm (before Mass) Saturday: 5.30pm (before Vigil Mass)
Our Lady of the Wayside, Broughderg: Sunday: 10.30am (before Mass)
Or by appointment
Visitation of Sick
and Housebound
Will take place on the first Monday of each month (unless otherwise noted in the news sheet). If you or someone whom you know would like a visit from Fr. Hasson, please let him know.
On St. Patrick’s Day we are asked to remember in our prayers those who have emigrated. Many of you reading this will no doubt have been touched by the sense of loss that comes with a loved one emigrating. St. Patrick first encountered Ireland as a migrant. Thus, it is fitting that on the Feast of the National Patron, we again seek to highlight the needs of the many Irish emigrants spread throughout the world. Today we too remember in a special way those emigrants whose journey has been a hard one, particularly the elderly Irish in Britain, our undocumented in the United States and Irish prisoners overseas.
