By 
A NEW Mass schedule is coming into effect for two Tyrone parishes following a restructuring of services in recent weeks, which coincided with the death of Father Eugene Hasson, Parish Priest of Drumragh.
The Cappagh and Drumragh parishes are currently being served by two priests. The cancellation of Vigil and Sunday Masses in the Corpus Christi Church in Mountfield and St Mary’s Church in Knockmoyle come into effect from this weekend.
It remains unclear what plans will be put in place by the Bishop of Derry, Dr Donal McKeown, for the parish of Drumragh following the passing of Fr Hasson, who had been Parish Priest there since 2017.
In his homily at Masses at the weekend, Fr Kevin McElhennon, Parish Priest of Cappagh, who alongside his curate, Fr Malachy Gallagher, is covering Masses and other services at six churches, said there was currently an ‘sense of uncertainty’ about what comes next.
“From the moment Fr Eugene was brought home to the Sacred Heart Church, this parish rose in a wonderful response in the days that followed. People stepped forward, took responsibility, they gave their time, their care and their presence,” Fr McElhennon said.
“The church was full, not just for the funeral Mass, but for all the services and rosaries. There was a constant prayer that took place here, all led and organised by the people of the parish.
“You might say that those days the parish was alive. If you could ever say that a funeral was positive, then Fr Eugene’s funeral had a profoundly positive influence on our parish.”
Fr McElhennon said that people had felt honoured to play their part. He said that this reflected a ‘real sense of belonging’ in the parish.
He added that ‘something had changed’ in relation to the future of the parish, and said people were now moving forward as a parish community.
“The way forward for our parish will be shaped whether what we have seen happen among us (following the death of Fr Hasson) becomes something which is real about how we live as a parish – the shared responsibility, the willingness to give and each person rising with tremendous generosity,” he said.
