Go in Peace

By Matthew Matassa

As we entered through the massive doors of St. Eugene’s Catholic Church, I couldn’t help but look up to the ceiling. I was taken by the abundance of red tiles latticed by grand beams of oak. The countless stone faces seemed to be keeping tabs on the people below and the abundance of stain glass windows waited for a rare glimpse of Irish sun.

The beauty and greatness was hard to comprehend. So was the fact that only a few steps away from the massive church doors, 13 Catholics were shot to death by British soldiers. This event became known as Bloody Sunday, one of Derry’s, and Irelands, most significant moments during their quest for peace.

With this haunting fact lingering in the back of my mind, we made our way to the front to find some seats. As we settled into a pew, I continued to have a hard time keeping my eyes off the unbelievable artwork above me. I was so mesmerized by the beauty that I forgot to notice the people sitting around me. It wasn’t until they broke into song that I came back down to earth and started to see the “human side” of this church.

I was surrounded by people from every generation. Surely, they all had some type of story to tell that would fill in a few of the questions bouncing through my mind. Whether directly involved with the conflict or not, I think it is safe to say they all have been significantly impacted by the history of their neighborhood.

Putting faces and places to my perceptions spawned new questions. What was it like inside this sanctuary when the outside world was a war zone? What type of dialogue was taking place among the clergy while their community was in conflict? How could something as beautiful as this church be at the head of something so devastating?

In my search for these answers during my time in Derry, I will ponder the closing words of the priest as he sent us out back into the world….

“Go in peace.”