The church 69 framed, marking a major milestone for parents and youth alike. This climactic moment also pretty well signalled the end of formal catechetical instruction at the parish level. Because of Father McCarthy's gentleness, first confession for me and other six year olds was an easy experience as was first communion a day or two later. These were uncluttered but high-profile events for tender youth. Confirmation, taking place in our parish every three years, came at around age ten. It was a considerably more elevated event involving longer prepara¬ tion, special dress and some nervousness since it meant the coming of Bishop O'Sullivan and a number of priests to celebrate this momentous occasion. Lent was a very special time in the church each year. On week-day mornings people from Iona and beyond would fill the side chapel for Mass at 7 o'clock and often still dark. On Wed¬ nesday evenings we had devotions with Benediction and on Friday evenings the way of the cross. Again the side chapel would be filled to overflowing. Until major changes in the early 50s, Holy Week services for centuries were held in the morning. They were long and tiring and, of course, in Latin. Just the same, parishioners came faithfully for these three-day celebrations, often over very bad roads, sometimes on foot or even on horse¬ back. Corpus Christi Sunday in June was an important event around the church for many years. In the afternoon a solemn procession with the Blessed Sacrament would move from the church to the verandah of the priest's house where a temporary altar was set up and benediction celebrated. The lawn would be filled with people maintaining a respectful silence and at times kneeling on the grass. A memorable event each October was the Forty-Hour devo¬ tion when the Blessed Sacrament would be exposed continu¬ ously in a monstrance on the altar from the end of Sunday Mass until roughly 8 a.m. Tuesday. During the Forty Hours it was understood that parishioners should go to confession and then to Mass on Monday or Tuesday or both. For this, priests from neighbouring parishes would arrive early Sunday afternoon with their cars lined up by the side of the rectory. Confessions from various spots in the main church and side chapel would take place during the afternoon and evening hours. Great was the coming and going of people that day. Two early morning Masses were scheduled both Monday and Tuesday, with the closing taking place following the last Mass on Tuesday. The