A Darlington mother of six has secured the front row pew for St Pater’s 2016 Easter celebrations after announcing her intentions to remain permanently on the pew at mass last week.
Bernadette Muscat and her husband Joseph took their seven children to the 10am mass on Easter Sunday, however, when the congregation left the church to organist Therese O’Keeffe’s rousing rendition of ‘Lord of the Dance’, the Muscat family stayed put.
It was only when the Muscat family of nine were still sitting on the pew at 9am mass on Easter Monday that the parish office realised their intentions.
Mrs Muscat told us her extreme action was prompted by the large number of “submarine Catholics” who appear to only attend mass over the Easter and Christmas periods.
“There are always so many people at Good Friday mass, and on the Sunday as well,” she said.
“I don’t know where they come from. But if this is what I have to do to stop the boats, so be it.”
This year, the St Pater’s Sunday congregation swelled by 20 per cent over the Easter long weekend, as the parish welcomed eight new worshippers.
Although the entire Muscat family is currently occupying the pew, it is expected that after a few months the Muscat children, aged between 19 months and 15 years, will mind the pew on a rotating roster.
“Why else do you think I had nine kids?” their mother said.
Mrs Muscat said the action would not affect her children’s wellbeing or social lives as they are homeschooled.
