OVERFLOW congregations have been a rarity in recent times, but at St Catherine�s Dominican Church in Newry, especially during Novenas, it has been `standing room only.`

However, that majestic edifice could easily have been located elsewhere in the frontier town. Strong opposition had been mounted from the middle-class section to the church being sited at Ballybot, with the claim that �only the poor lived there.�

And there has been nothing poverty-stricken about members of the Holy Name Sodality, the power-house for fund-raising, which enabled a huge debt on the church and priory to be wiped out in record time. They covered a wide spectrum of society, such as business and the professions, councillors and the `ordinary five-eight.`

For example, in the 60�s and 70�s, the organisation, headed by deceased Sean McAteer, included Sean O�Drisoll, Felix Larkin, Henry McCrink, Gerry Boyle, Eddie Mackle, Gerry Duffy, Frank Donnelly, Sean Southwell, Harry O�Rourke, Arthur Morgan, Cllrs Barney McShane, Tommy McGrath, and John Bell; Michael Carlin, Jim Smyth, Tom McChesney, Michael McEvoy, Gerry O�Rourke, David McDonald and Graham Jordan.

Apart from producing a prelate in Bishop John Crawford, - son of Warrenpoint Town Clerk, Vincent Crawford, - and three Priors, no less than 22 priests and three lay-brothers were once altar-boys at St Catherine�s Church. The Priors were Fr Norbert Barry, Fr John O�Rourke and Fr Raymond Collins.

Best-known priest would have been Fr Barry, who was honoured by Newry and Mourne district council at a reception, ten years ago at the age of 95. He died a year later. Council chairman Danny Kennedy declared: �Your humility, goodness and love of your fellow man has become a trademark.

�The high esteem, in which you are held throughout the town of Newry, bears testimony to this.� Council vice-chairman Pat McElroy stated: �Through the sermons of Fr Barry, I was able to appreciate even more the value of home and life.� And chief executive Kevin O�Neill said that their guest of honour had been �one of the most esteemed Dominicans that the town has ever produced.�

Speaking of the �tremendous contribution made by the Dominicans, especially Fr Barry, to the town, parish and people of Newry,� Canon John Kearney, Adm., stated: �The influence of the Dominicans could not only be felt in Newry, but the entire area. We appreciate, and we would be poorer without it.�

St Catherine�s Church was unique in having white-garbed clergy; its choir has been renowned for its excellence; and the annual Novena to St Martin de Porres has drawn large crowds. Also the special effects Christmas Crib, engineered by Fr Murphy, was a great attraction to children.

Indeed, the choir has had such a high reputation over the years, that crowds have flocked to Masses and other church services, including some non-Catholics. The fine organists have included Tom Kelly, who was also musical director of Newry Musical and Orchestral Society, - Gertie Durnin, Mrs Alma Brown and Mrs M. Larkin.

When the centenary of the church was celebrated in 1971, the choir consisted of Bene McAteer, Margaret Nolan, Nuala McMahon, Grainne McAteer, May McCarthy, Florence McAnulty and Laura Gorman, along with Tony McAlinden, David McVeigh, William McCamley and Felix McNally.

Many well-known personalities have been altar-boys, such as Charlie Smyth, Gerry Duffy, Jimmy McParland, Barney McShane, Colin Bell, Jimmy Heaney, Mickey Brady, Donal Gavaghan, Austin Kane, John Maguire, Michael Russell, Seamus Turley and the four Greenan brothers.

And those who became priests were Jim Flood, Robert McLaughlin, Basil Keenan, Tony Hanratty, Leo McVeigh, Pat Tumilty, Oscar Welsh, John Lupton, Bertie Barry, Michael McLaughlin, C.P. Finnegan, Pat McGivern, Laurence and Thomas Greenan, Raymond Dowdall, P.J. Markey, Colm Kean, John Calter, Norbert Barry, Raymond Collins and John O�Rourke. The lay-brothers were Benedict Larkin, Angelo McGivern and Francis Byrne.

Longest-serving altar-boy was Jimmy McParland, who became a joiner, and resides at Aileen Terrace. He was persuaded to continue serving Mass until the age of 21. He recalled that Gerry Duffy, later editor of the `Newry Reporter,` and Jimmy Gallagher, who became a journalist with the `Belfast Telegraph` and then the `Irish Independent,` had produced a publication while altar-boys.

Jimmy McParland reported that of the four Greenan brothers, - sons of the Master at Newry Workhouse and hospital, - who had been altar-boys, Kevin and Tommy had become priests, while Joe and Laurence were doctors. Kevin had married Mary McAteer from Dromalane, whose brother Sean died recently. He had been chairman of the Holy Name Sodality at Catherine�s.

Meanwhile, the Rosary Confraternity has been one of the oldest organisations at the Dominican church, founded in 1877, its fortunes having fluctuated over the decades. Back in the 70�s the Prefects were Misses Rita Gallagher, Jeanie Rankin, Roisin Larkin, Mary Reilly, Ellie McVerry and Mary M. Quinn, along with Mrs Kathleen Guinane, Mrs Annie Ryan and Mrs D. McDonald.

But back to the beginning! It was in March 1871, that three priests and a lay-brother arrived in the frontier town to establish a Dominican foundation. They took up residence at Hyde Terrace, now St Colman�s Park, while a house at Chapel Street was being prepared for their reception.

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