Diocese of Clogher celebrates 1500 years of faith ‘MACARTAN 1500 CELEBRATIONS’

23 Mar 2006

PRESS RELEASE

23 MARCH 2006

DIOCESE OF CLOGHER CELEBRATES 1500 YEARS OF FAITH

‘MACARTAN 1500 CELEBRATIONS’

“Macartan’s reputation has spanned the centuries as the bearer of Patrick’s legacy
and as our personal, historical link to Jesus Christ” – Bishop Duffy

The Diocese of Clogher is celebrating 1500 years of Christianity in 2006 thanks to
the arrival of St Macartan to Clogher more than fifteen hundred years ago.

The Macartan 1500 celebrations opened during the week of prayer for Christian unity
in January 2006, when Bishop Nathan of the Armenian Orthodox Church visited Monaghan
at the joint invitation of Bishop Michael Jackson (Church of Ireland) and Bishop
Joseph Duffy. In the course of this visit, the idea of having an icon of St Macartan
written as part of the Macartan 1500 celebration took shape.

On Sunday next 26th March as part of a Diocesan Mass of Thanksgiving the Bishop of
Clogher, Dr Joseph Duffy will bless the completed icon of St Macartan in the presence
of the Papal Nuncio to Ireland Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto and representatives from
all the parishes in the diocese.

Commenting on the Macartan 1500 celebrations the Bishop of Clogher, Dr Joseph Duffy
said: “Macartan’s importance in the Diocese of Clogher is to do with the way tradition
connects him with St Patrick. In the various genealogies, Macartan is mentioned as
one of ‘Muintír Phádraig’, the group of people who accompanied Patrick on his mission.

“Macartan is important in other ways: he represents the Ireland that Patrick converted
and he represents a centre of unity, a focus for the faith community that emerged as
the Diocese of Clogher. Macartan’s reputation has spanned the centuries as the bearer
of Patrick’s legacy and as our personal, historical link to Jesus Christ.”

Ends
23rd March 2006

Further information:
Martin Long Director of Communications (086 172 7678)
Brenda Drumm Communications Officer (087 233 7797)

NOTES TO EDITORS:

St Macartan:
St Macartan is the Patron of the Diocese of Clogher and his Feast Day falls on
24th March. Details on the story of St Macartan are available at www.clogherdiocese.ie

Macartan Icon and Bronze panel:
The Diocese has commissioned a bronze panel of Macartan for the Cathedral in Monaghan
as well as an Icon of Macartan. Images and background information on these can be
found at www.clogherdiocese.ie

Macartan 1500 Events:
Events organised for the Macartan 1500 celebrations include:
A Novena of Prayer is being held in every parish which began on the Feast Day of St
Patrick – Friday 17th March and concludes on Friday 24th March, Feast Day of St. Macartan.
A special element of the Novena is the Roll of Honour – the naming of people who have
been part of the faith journey of individuals and/or families in the diocese. A special
leaflet has been distributed to all parishes inviting people to write the names of the
people who have been part of their faith journey. The leaflets will be brought to parish
churches for the end of the Novena on Friday 24th March where the names will be honoured
in a special way. Representatives from each parish will present these names as part of
the Sunday 26th March Liturgy.

On Thursday 23 March 2006 in the Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan there will be a display
of entries in the St Macartan’s Crest design competition for second level schools, and
the announcement of the winner. Over the following months, entries will be on display
in Credit Union Offices around the Diocese.

On Friday 24th March 2006 the Feast of St Macartan, Bishop Joseph Duffy will
celebrate Mass with the students from St Macartan’s College in Monaghan at 9.30am.

At 11.00am Bishop Duffy will meet Bishop Michael Jackson (Church of Ireland Bishop Of
Clogher) and Archbishop John Sentamu of York for a visit to St Macartan’s College and
Monaghan Collegiate School.

On Sunday 26th March 2006 at 3.00pm people from every parish in the diocese will
gather in the Cathedral of St. Macartan in Monaghan town for a Special Eucharistic Liturgy
of Thanksgiving, marking 1500 years of faith in Clogher. Bishop Joseph Duffy will be
joined by the Apostolic Nuncio His Excellency Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto for the
celebration.

On Pentecost Sunday 4 June 2006 the annual Outdoor Ecumenical Act of Worship will
be held at Rathmore, Clogher at 3.00pm.

From Tuesday 11 – Thursday 13 July 2006 there will be special youth participation
in the traditional three-day pilgrimage to Lough Derg.

July/August – Summer Family Day, Walk and Barbeque organised by Youth Team. Two venues:
Clogher and Enniskillen area. (Dates To Be Confirmed)

Beginning in September, the Icon of St Macartan will be available to visit parishes as
a focus of prayer. More details later.

Macartan 1500 Resources for Schools:

A set of resources on St Macartan have been prepared by the Diocese for Primary and
Post-Primary Schools. These include lesson plans, information on the life of Macartan,
an interview with Bishop Duffy and information on the Macartan Tapestry in the Cathedral
in Monaghan. These are available to download at www.clogherdiocese.ie