Special honour for St. Patrick's organist
Brendan Mccourt with his wife Joan and family David, Sarah and Paul, with Archbishop Sean Brady, Fr Garrett Campbell, CC and Fr Mark O'hagan, Adm. after the presentation of the Medal of St Patrick in St. Patrick's Cathedral last Sunday.
BRENDAN MCCOURT, the organist and choir master at St Patrick's Dundalk, was honoured for his service to ministry in the church last Sunday when he was presented with the Medal of St Patrick by Cardinal Sean Brady.
'It's a great honour and privilege that the Cardinal himself came and presented the medal,' says Brendan, from St Alphonsus Road who has been attached to St Patrick's for the past 25 years, having been encouraged to take up the post of organist and choir master by the late Fr Sean Mccartan and Fr Felix Mcguckian.
Prior to that he had many years association with St Joseph's Redemportist Church where he had started out as choirboy before becoming assistant organist and then organist.
The Medal of St Patrick is awarded by the Archdiocese of Armagh to those who give outstanding service to the ministry of the church.
Brendan's duties as organist and choirmaster cover looking after the music for all liturgies including Sunday masses and special occasions like Christmas, Easter and other feastdays, as well as novenas and confirmation.
He selects the hymns, organises for the copyright licences for the hymn sheets and gets them printed and copied for both choir members and the congregation. He has also composed a number of hymns which are now in regular use in St Patrick's, including a hymn to Mary of the Miraculous Medal which is sung during the novena and has written a setting for the new mass.
He is also responsible for the upkeep of the church's famous Willis organ which was installed 111 years ago.
After being presented with the medal, Brendan was given a round of applause by the congregation.
Picture shows Brendan with his wife Joan and family David, Sarah and Paul, with Archbishop Sean Brady, Fr Garrett Campbell, CC and Fr Mark O'hagan, Adm.
- MARGARET RODDY
