Tuam babies to be remembered at special vigil during Pope’s visit
As Pope Francis begins saying mass at the Phoenix Park at 3pm this Sunday, more than 200 kilometres away in Tuam, survivors and families of the infants of the town’s infamous mother and baby home, and their supporters, will gather for a peaceful vigil.
There’ll be a procession from the Square in Tuam, up the Dublin Road to the site where hundreds of babies were buried at the former religious-run institution. They’ll light candles, and leave memorabilia, including children’s shoes, at the site; and there’ll be a rollcall of the 796 names of the children buried there.
A sculpture two feet in diameter in the shape of a baptismal font made up of miniature babies, donated by Belgian sculptor, Martine Stark, will be placed at the site.
“You could say it’s kind of a funeral for them,” said Catherine Corless, the historian who revealed the mass graves.
One woman in England, Annette McKay, whose sister is buried at the site, has been campaigning since Ms Corless broke the story.
“If she had to stand alone she was going to do it. I said we would all come onboard. We’re expecting a good crowd. It’s a peaceful vigil, to coincide with the mass in Phoenix Park, to put awareness out there about the babies in the septic tank in Tuam in the hope that the Pope, as well as addressing the victims of sex abuse, will also address the survivors of mother and baby homes around the country and in Tuam in particular,” she said.
Ms Corless said that “deep down we believe the Government are trying to cover this over as quietly as they can and to minimise the fact that so many children are lying in that area, both in the tank and in the grounds that are being walked on.”
Survivors hope Pope Francis will acknowledge the Tuam babies during his visit.
“The Vatican really and truly have to wake up to the facts of what happened in Ireland and other countries, as well as the paedophilia there was so much wrongdoing with the church and religious orders and the State.
“I believe that it would carry a lot of weight if Pope Francis were to say that he acknowledges that the babies are buried in Tuam in an unchristian fashion and that he is aware of it and he is aware that survivors are still waiting for justice. Just to mention that in his homily in the Phoenix Park would carry a lot of weight,” she added.
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