Priest creates a piece of history with first online live christening

2 September 2020

A MEMBER of the classical music trio, The Priests, has performed the first live-streamed baptism in St Patrick’s Church in Downpatrick.

Fr Eugene O’Hagan baptised four-month-old Ciaran Jack McGarrity, on Saturday, August 22.

Family and friends were able to tune in live online for a baptism in the church for the first time, thanks to a newly installed PTZ camera that is not fixed solely on the altar for mass.

The camera – installed as part of a technology drive by the parish priest, Fr John Murray‚ meant family and friends, some as far away as Australia, could watch live, as the ceremony took place at the baptismal font.

“The new PTZ camera can pan, tilt and zoom,” said Fr Murray, “so people can get a close view of the ceremony and feel very much a part of the day.”

As he made history in the parish, baby Ciaran was wearing a 100 year-old christening gown that had belonged to his maternal great grandfather, Sean.

Fr O’Hagan got to know the baby’s father, Ciaran Sr, as well as the child’s uncle Matthew and grandfather Michael through their work as painters and decorators for the diocese of Down and Connor.

The singing priest, who has sold millions of records, began chatting to them when they painted his office, as he is also chancellor for the diocese. “And lo and behold, I was asked to officiate at Ciaran’s wedding (to Jane),” said Fr O’Hagan.

Having married the couple in St Patrick’s, he was delighted to return to baptise Ciaran Jr, who only cried a little before the live camera when the waters of baptism flowed.

Those present included the godfather, Matthew McGarrity, and Jane’s sister, Sara Gorman, who was the godmother, but restrictions on numbers were imposed due to Covid.

Proud sad Ciaran said the technology was heaven-sent. “It’s a great idea, especially with Covid, because obviously we would have had more numbers at the christening if we were able.”

Fr O’Hagan said the technology was a wonderful way to connect with people, though it can never replace interpersonal contact.

Fr Murray agreed it was better for people to be present in person but explained that the parish is seeking creative ways to ensure that as many people as possible can access mass, family baptisms and funeral services online during Covid restrictions.

“We had the technology in place – a fixed camera – when Covid hit,” he said. This got us through lockdown.

“It was essential that we had contact with people and a lot of people said how much they benefited from having the mass regularly. It got them into a system each day when everything else had been knocked from their routine.”

“The new camera came at no extra cost when the parish switched to a contract with Churchmedia.tv which is expanding its base across the diocese.

Fr Murray added: “This is technology for the future but also the present. You would hope that people will get back to mass and this will never be a substitute for the real thing. But we have a regular viewing public which has peaked at 7,000.”

Indeed people are tuning into mass in Downpatrick from other countries via Churchmedia.tv and Facebook. There are also plans to upgrade and integrate the parish website, app and twitter page.

St Patrick’s Church is now open for mass on weekday mornings at 9.30am, and Monday and Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm. The Saturday morning mass at 10am and vigil mass at 5.30pm are now public again as is the noon mass on Sunday. Sunday morning mass at 9am is online only, as is Friday evening mass at 7.30pm.

All services are now live-streamed via Churchmedia.tv and the Downpatrick parish Facebook.

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