We decided in Walkinstown to celebrate our 200 Years Anniversary with a special Mass on the 19th May – involving all the surrounding schools and parishioners.
After Mary Aikenhead was declared Venerable in March, it was suggested that we might be able to place Mary Aikenhead’s picture in a permanent position in the church. This suggestion ‘grew’ to also include Blessed Edmund Rice’s picture. Both Congregations had been very involved in the development of Walkinstown Parish since its inception, through education and social services. Our Parish Priest – Fr. John Jacob – was most co-operative and agreed that both pictures could be permanently placed in a former confessional niche near the altar. Two large pictures of both Founders were sourced and framed during the weeks prior to the event.
The Social Service Centre were also celebrating their 50th Anniversary around the same time and so it was decided to include them in the general celebrations.
Letters of invitation were sent to all former sisters, teachers, priests and others who had been involved in the parish. All parishioners were also invited publicly through Parish Newsletters.
The local schools, Social Service Centre and some parishioners were all involved in the preparations and eventually in the Mass itself.
Ten priests concelebrated and many Christian Brothers were also present. Since the original purpose of the event was the Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the Congregation, the Mass began with a picture of Mary Aikenhead carried in procession to the altar. Music was provided by choirs from the various schools and a group of girls performed an Irish dance as 
the Book of the Gospels was brought in procession. First Holy Communions had taken place the previous Saturday and some girls from this group did the Offertory Procession.
Sister Úna O’Neill gave a most inspiring Homily on Mary Aikenhead and the Congregation’s involvement in the Walkinstown Parish.
After Communion the pictures of Venerable Mary Aikenhead and Blessed Edmund Rice were brought from the altar in procession by two school children to their eventual position in the former confessional. The entire congregation accompanied them to the strains of the hymn: ‘The Charity of Christ Urges Us On’.
The whole religious celebration was very moving and reverent and afterwards all were invited to refreshments in the school hall and Social Service Centre.
