Bishops commemorate 1979 visit to Ireland by Pope John Paul I1

16 Sep 2004

Press Release

16th September 2004

Bishops commemorate 1979 visit to Ireland by Pope John Paul I1

 

>          Archbishop Seán Brady is principal celebrant at an open Mass in Clonmacnois

at 3pm on September 19th which will include a special message from the Holy

Father to the people of Ireland;

>          Triduum of events covering September 29th, 30th (part televised) and October 1st;

>          Televised ‘Mission Alive’ Mass from Cork on Sunday October 3rd ;

>          Audio versions of the homilies delivered by the Holy Father during his Irish visit

will be available on www.catholiccommunications.ie;

% Publications by Veritas with a forward by Archbishop Seán Brady: (i) the     Holy Father’s 1979 speeches and homilies delivered while in Ireland and, (ii)  themes taken from the Holy Father’s speeches and homilies delivered while in Ireland.

 

The Irish Bishops’ Conference is celebrating the 1979 visit of Pope John Paul II with

two national events and in addition, these national events will be complemented with a

triduum of celebrations corresponding to the visit dates 25 years ago. The events are:

> Clonmnacnoise on Sunday 19″ September;

> “Mission Alive” in Cork on Sunday October 3d; and,

>Three days of celebrations around Ireland corresponding to the original visit dates.

 

Clonmacnoise will involve celebration of Mass by the Archbishop of Armagh and

Primate of All Ireland Dr Seán Brady. Every diocese has been invited to send

representatives. It was agreed that this event would be part-pilgrimage, with attendees

encouraged to walk to the monastic site from designated points near the site.

 

The Cork celebration will start in Holy Spirit Church, Dennehy’s Cross, in Cork city on

Sunday October 3d and will initiate “Mission Alive” week (see details below). It

involves the celebration of a televised Mass by Archbishop of Bulawayo Pius Ncube

from the Republic of Zimbabwe will open “Mission Alive” week. In keeping with the

missionary theme, this event will emphasise that over the last 25 years, the Pope has been

the missionary par excellence. The theme of the Mass is “Proclaim the Message”.

 

“Mission Alive” will be held in the GAA Sports Centre in Bishopstown Co Cork from 3″‘

to 6″ October involving photo stands telling story of contemporary mission. Over the

three days schools, parish communities in the south will attend this interactive exhibition.

 

The triduurn of celebrations around Ireland will involve:

> September 29″ Wednesday: Masses to be celebrated in diocesan cathedrals around

   Ireland;

> September 30″ Thursday: Sung Evening Prayer of the Church in Maynooth College,

   dedicated to priests and religious.

> October la Friday: Parish Masses, with possible themes focusing on the sick and/or

   the missions.

Clonmacnois September 19& 2004

 

The Diocese of Ardagh & Clonmacnois will host the commemoration on the occasion of

the annual “Pattern” (traditional Pilgrimage) of St. Ciariin who was the founder of this

once important monastery. Although Pope John Paul II came to Ireland in 1979 for the

centenary of the Knock Apparition, it was his visit to Clonmacnois that clearly fascinated

him.

 

The principal celebrant and preacher will be Dr Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and

Primate of All Ireland. Also in attendance will be the local bishop and Bishop of Ardagh

and Clonmacnois, Dr Colm O’Reilly, the Bishop of Cloyne Dr John Magee and the

Bishop of Meath Dr Michael Smith. The latter two bishops played key roles in

organising the Papal Visit of 1979.

 

Pilgrims from all over Ireland will gather at Clonmacnois for this occasion. The

ceremony will include the traditional pilgrimage prayers around the monastic ground,

combined with short extracts from Papal addresses during the 1979 visit. Monks from

Glenstal Abbey along with local choirs will assist the celebration.

 

Notes for Editors re Clonmacnois

>The local National School is available for journalists as regards desks and chairs, and

    some telephone points for email purposes are available;

 

> These is a digital OPW map of Clonmacnois and is available on

    www.ardaghdiocese.org

 

> With the road network and lack of bus bays at the site, the organisers wish to remind

    people that it will only be possible to reach the site in minibuses or by private car.

    Stewards will direct pilgrims to the designated parking places. People are asked to be

    mindful of the need to bring water, to wear sensible shoes and clothes as the weather

    can be changeable. Limited seating is available for people with special needs. Due to

    the antiquity of the site, people are reminded to follow the directions of the stewards

    to ensure safety on this ancient site.

 

> We are grateful for the help and co-operation of the Office of Public Works, the

    Reserve Defence Forces and local volunteers in co-coordinating this special

    ceremony.

“Mission Alive”

Holy Spirit Church, Dennehy’s Cross, Cork City October 3 rd 2004

 

“Mission Alive” has been in existence since Jubilee 2000. Previously Mission Sunday

consisted solely of a hnd raising collection. “Mission Alive” however, as a Catholic

Church awareness raising initiative, is broader than this. It focuses on our understating of

mission and looks at the changing face of missions.

 

Now each year a different venue around Ireland is chosen.

– “Mission Alive” will start with the celebration of Mass by Archbishop of

Bulawayo Pius Ncube fiom the Republic of Zimbabwe, on Sunday October 3rd.

Mass will be televised on R e 1 and takes place in the Holy Spirit Church,

Dennehy’s Cross, in Cork city at 1 1 :05 am. In keeping with the missionary

theme, this event emphasises that, over the last 25 years, the Pope has been the

missionary par excellence. The theme of this Mas is “Proclaim the Message”;

– “Mission Alive” festival will be held in the GAA Sports Centre in Bishopstown

Co Cork from Sunday October 3d to the 6″ October. It involves photo stands

telling the story of contemporary mission. Over the three days schools and parish

communities will attend this interactive exhibition; – throughout the whole country “Mission Alive” focuses on the theme of mission;

– “Mission Alive” in 2004 is supporting the ‘Day for Life’ which has also been

designated for October 3d. This year’s ‘Day for Life’ involves the publication of

a pastoral letter on suicide issued by the Irish Bishops’ Conference. This year’s

Day for Life theme provides the opportunity to highlight the Holy Father’s

teachings on the sacredness of human life.

 

Triduum of Events 29th ,30th  September and lst October

 

Corresponding to the actual dates of the Pope’s 1979 visit to Ireland, the Irish Bishops’

Conference has organised the following triduum (three days) of events:

> September 29th 2004

   Masses to be celebrated by bishops in diocesan cathedrals around Ireland;

> September 30th 2004

   Also as part of the Irish Bishops’ Conference silver jubilee celebrations of the1 979

   visit to Ireland by Pope John Paul 11, an Evening Prayer of the Church will take place

   in the College Chapel in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth at 7:30pm on Thursday

   September 30″ 2004. This celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours~EveningP rayer of

   the Church will be sung by the College Choir and presided over by the Apostolic

   Nuncio His Excellency Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto. It will be attended by

   seminarians, priests, vocations directors, leaders of sisters, brothers and religious

   communities in Ireland and lay students from the university. Part of the event will be

   broadcast on RTÉ television.

> October 1st  2004

   Parish Masses, with themes addressing the sanctity of human life, the sick and the

   missions.

 

Audio versions of 1979 papal homilies www.catho1iccommunications.ie

 

From Sunday September 27th , the following homilies and speech by Pope John Paul 11

will be available on the Catholic Communications Office website

www.catho1icommunications.ie as audio download files:

> Homily by the Holy Father at Mass in the Phoenix Park on September 29’h, 1979;

> Homily by the Holy Father at the Mass in Drogheda on September 29&, 1979;

> Homily of Holy Father at Mass for Youth in Galway on September 30′, 1979;

> Homily of Holy Father in Knock on September 30th, 1979;

>Speech by Holy Father to seminarians in Maynooth on October 1st, 1979;

>Homily by Holy Father in Limerick on October 1st, 1979.

 

In order to listen to these audio files using your computer, your computer must have

certain minimum specifications so as to successfully install the relevant software, called

RealOne Player. The free version of the RealOne Player can be downloaded from

www.real.com. When the player is downloaded, click on the file that sets up the software

on your computer.

 

For further information contact Martin Long 086 17 27 678