PRESS RELEASE
19 May 2008
Asian Cardinal to visit Diocese of Meath to acknowledge aid
The leader of the Catholic Church in Thailand, Cardinal Michael Kitbunchu, will visit the Diocese of Meath this week from21 to 24 May, 2008. You are invited to attend a media briefing with the Cardinal on Thursday 22 May at 5pm in the Mullingar Park Hotel. The Cardinal intends to detail the response of the parishioners of the Diocese of Meath to various appeals and to humanitarian relief projects (see below). Cardinal Kitbunchu will also reflect on the life of the Church in Asia, as well as the situation in Thailand and in neighbouring Burma (Myanmar).
Cardinal Michael Kitbunchu is Archbishop of Bangkok and served as President of the Episcopal Conference of Thailand until 2006. Earlier this year he celebrated the 25th anniversary of his appointment as Cardinal by Pope John Paul II. The Diocese of Meath appeals include:
- Tsunami Appeal in December 2004 raised over €1.1m for humanitarian relief in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India and East Africa.
- Lenten Appeal in March 2007. The Parish of Mullingar worked with Trócaire to raise €80,000 to provide a new centre for skills training for disadvantaged women in Thailand.
- Five schools in the Diocese of Meath: Athboy, Mornington, Mullingar, Navan and Trim, are twinned with ‘migrant schools’ providing education for Burmese migrant children.
- May 2008 appeal for victims of the cyclone which has devastated parts of Burma (Myanmar).
Itinerary:
On Thursday 22 May, Cardinal Kitbunchu will meet the priests of the Diocese of Meath . The Cardinal will express his thanks for the generosity of their parishioners and inform them on how the aid raised has been put to good use on the ground.
On Friday 23 May, Cardinal Kitbunchu will celebrate Mass at 10am in the Cathedral of Christ The King, Mullingar. Pupils and teachers from the five schools (see point 3 above) supporting Burmese school children will attend this Mass.
ENDS
Further information:
Martin Long, Director of Communications (086 172 7678)
Kathy Tynan, Communications Officer (086 817 5674)
Fr Paul Crosbie, Diocese of Meath Communications Officer (044 934 833)
