Reflection. 98 years ago today on August 28th 1915 my Mother – Anna Rosaline Hastings was born in her family home in Bridge St. Westport. All of you who knew my Mother knew the great love she had for family and how happy she would be to see all of us gathered here today. Happy Birthday Mother! Our entrance Hymn – or song – is entitled Absent – a very old song sung by Christine Miller. May Coggins Joyce, who married Petie Joyce of Ashmount, sent the words to my Mother shortly before she - May - died. It is a song of Grieving and yet of Hope and so is apt for this day. . This day is being held in my Mother’s memory, in my Father’s - Thomas Francis Joyce – but also in memory of all the deceased members of the Hastings and Joyce Families. We remember too the Conroy’s and indeed all family names interlinked and intermarried into our families. Our thoughts are with the family of Jim Duffy – husband of Josephine Joyce of Ashmount - Jim died just a few days ago and his funeral takes place in Mayo today. The existence of family is always interwoven with sadness as well as joy. But today too is a Celebration - a celebration of the living. Those of us who have descended from those people. Those of us here today. We think of those who are unable to be with us here today – Auntie Mary Barker who is over 100 years of age and Uncle Sean Hastings who is in his 90’s – both of them in England, thinking of us, I feel sure. Others missing too, who would love to have been able to be here. Yet, it is wonderful to see so many gathered here - young and not so young – from Uncle Ted who is in his 90’s - to my new Granddaughter Jessica who is just three weeks old. And to all of us in between. Welcome to all! It is important to remember our roots, to honour that memory and to be thankful for all that has been handed down to us from our people. Let us gather, explore our past, remember our roots, it is important to teach our young people, the children and the babies – who they are, and where and what they came from. We have traveled here today from all over the world to celebrate the importance of Family. From the East and West coasts of the United States, from Canada, from New Zealand, from various parts of Europe - Austria, Wales, England, from all over Ireland, from the local area itself. It is because of the importance of those bonds we have organised visits to the Family Burial Plots after Mass and I do hope you will avail of the opportunity to visit the graves of those interred in Leenane, Ultagh Beaga and Breenaun to honour their memory. And to see the lands they came from. In years to come when you come back perhaps alone, or with future family members, you will be glad that you know where to bring them to teach them of their past. In the porch you will find a Map with a copy of today’s Itinerary and other information so make sure you get a copy – please take time to sigh our Visitor Book also which will be in the Hotel later. I would like to thank all who helped put this day together, Fr. Burke who has been most helpful as always, to Theresa Hoban of the Hastings family and Maureen Joyce of the Joyce family for coming on board as Euchristic Ministers, to my daughter Sharon who did the Reading, my son Nicholas who organised the music, to Sorcha Collins granddaughter of Kathleen Hastings McGinley who is our Altar Girl and to Aoife and Emeliem who did a wonderful job of reading the Prayers of the Faithful. To Emmt who will now present a flower to our Celebrant, Fr. Burke. All that is left to say is: Make the most of this day, enjoy it, cherish it. Pass on the bonds of family so cherished by those long gone. “Family and Family Love is deeper than we know Treasure it with all your might Don’t ever let it go.” Patricia Hastings Joyce Keane.
Posted on: Sat, 31 Aug 2013 16:53:13 +0000
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