Cardinal Seán Brady to visit St Patrick’s College Cavan and Laragh Parish in Co Cavan

31 Jan 2008

PRESS RELEASE

31st January 2008

Cardinal Seán Brady to visit St Patrick’s College Cavan and Laragh Parish in Co Cavan

You, or a representative, are invited to attend the following events with Cardinal Seán Brady in the Diocese of Kilmore on Friday 1st February 2008:

Date: Friday 1 February 2008 (Feast of St Brigid)

Times and venues: 3.00pm at St Patrick’s College, Cavan and 8.30pm at St Brigid’s Church, Laragh, Co Cavan

Notes to Editors:

* At 3.00pm Cardinal Brady will visit St Patrick’s College Cavan (the Diocesan College) where he was a student from 1952 to 1957 and a staff member from 1967 to1980. He will be formally welcomed by the Principal of the college Dr Liam Mc Niffe.
* Cardinal Brady will meet with students and staff, past and present including 40 members of the past staff, lay and clerical, from his time as a teacher in the college.
* Cardinal Brady will take part in a special St Brigid’s Day ceremony in the College Chapel and will bless St Brigid’s Day crosses that have been made by the first and second year students.
* The Student Council will make a presentation to Cardinal Brady of a jersey with his playing number on the back.
* At 8.30pm Cardinal Brady will be the principal celebrant and homilist at Mass St. Brigid’s Church, Laragh. The other main concelebrants will be Bishop Leo O’Reilly, Bishop of Kilmore, Fr Phil Brady, Parish Priest of Laragh and the Cardinal’s classmates from Kilmore: Fr John O’Donnell, Fr John Quinn and Fr Thomas Woods. It will be an opportunity for the people of Laragh to welcome and express their joy and support for the Cardinal.
* The theme of the Mass is: “St Brigid and the Irish Christian Heritage; leadership in the Church as service”.
* After the Mass a presentation will be made in Stradone community centre. This will consist principally of an Icon of St Brigid of Laragh specially commissioned by the Parish of Laragh for the occasion. The Icon has been written by iconographer Maria Gkinala a Greek artist who now lives and works in Corlough, west Cavan. The Icon depicts St Brigid of Laragh holding the church in her hand while she cradles creation in her arm; animals, plants and humanity. It is a truly unique piece of sacred art.
* Cardinal Brady will also receive a gift from the local Church of Ireland Rector Rev Raymond Moore.

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