Events and Services for Holy Week and Easter in Irish dioceses

04 Apr 2012

Events and Services for Holy Week and Easter in Irish dioceses

The Catholic Communications Office has compiled a list of some of the services and events taking place in Irish Dioceses for Holy Week and Easter.  These can be accessed on www.catholicbishops.ie  Some of the services taking place are as follows:

•    Archdiocese of Armagh: Cardinal Brady will preside at the Chrism Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh on Thursday 5 April at 11.00am.  Priests and people from across the diocese will be present.
    Archdiocese of Dublin: On Good Friday Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Michael Jackson will join together in a unique event on the streets of Dublin; leading together an Ecumenical walk from Christ Church Cathedral starting with a moment of prayer at 7.15pm in Christ Church.  The participants will carry a Taizé Cross to the Pro Cathedral to arrive for a chanted prayer at the foot of the cross beginning at 8pm.  All Christians are welcome.
•    Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly: Archbishop Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly will be officiating and preaching at the Chrism Mass tomorrow, Thursday 5 April, in the Cathedral at 10:30 am and will be Chief Celebrant at the Mass of Our Lord’s Supper at 7:30 pm also in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles.
•    Archdiocese of Tuam: Beidh turas na Croise á chomóradh i Máméan, Aoine an Chéasta ag 3.00 i.n. Casfaidh Joe John Mac Con Iomaire Caoineadh na dTrí Muire le linn na paidreacha. Fáilte roimh chuile dhuine! The traditional Stations of the Cross will be prayed in Máméan at 3.00 pm on Good Friday. Máméan is situated in the Maamturk mountains.  It is a Shrine of St. Patrick. There is a chapel there, a statue of St. Patrick, by Cliona Cussen and Stations of the Cross designed by Sr. Pius. Turn right at the sign post between Maam Cross and Recess if you are traveling on the main road from Galway to Clifden.

Some other services and events taking place around the country are highlighted below:

•    Diocese of Killala
Bishop John Fleming, Bishop of Killala will preside at Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Holy Thursday: 9.00pm. Mass of the Lord’s Supper. St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina. Good Friday: 11.00am. Confessions in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina.
3.00pm. Liturgy of the Passion in St Patrick’s Church, Ballina.
Holy Saturday: 12 noon. Confessions in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina.
9.00pm. Easter Vigil. St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina.
Easter Sunday: 11.00am. Easter Sunday Mass in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina.
•    Diocese of Kilmore
The Chrism Mass will take place in the Cathedral of Saints Patrick and Felim, Cavan at 11.30am on Thursday 5th April.  Bishop Leo O’Reilly will be the main celebrant assisted by priests of the diocese.
•    Diocese of Meath
The annual Chrism Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath this evening Wednesday 4 April at 7.30pm.  The Mass will involve most of the priests from the diocese of Meath and will involve volunteers who will be playing an active part in the 50th International Eucharistic Congress.  During the Chrism Mass, the clergy will renew their priestly vows and Bishop Smith will bless the Holy Oils for the sacraments in all parishes.  Bishop Smith will explain that the ministry of the priests and the celebration of the sacraments are primarily to “deepen communion with God and one another”.  Former Taoiseach, Mr John Bruton, has accepted an invitation to speak at the Holy Thursday Mass in the Cathedral at 7.30pm.  Mr Bruton will reflect on the role that lay members of the Church are called to play in “building communion” at every level of life, based on the practice of Christian faith.  The invitation was issued to Mr Bruton because he will be one of the key note speakers at the International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin next June.  The Good Friday ceremonies at the Cathedral will also reflect on this theme.
•    Diocese of Waterford and Lismore
On Thursday 5 April, the Chrism Mass will be celebrated in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Barronstrand Street, Waterford  at 10.30am.  During this celebration, the Holy Oils will be blessed and taken back to each Parish in the Diocese.  The priests present will also renew their Priestly promises, their renewal of commitment to the Priesthood and to the service of the people in their care.  All are welcome to attend this special Diocesan celebration.

Easter Sunday Dawn Masses: There is a long tradition in the Church of gathering in the darkness on Easter morning to meet the Risen Christ in the Holy Eucharist, allowing the sun as it rises to preach to us of how the rising of the Son banishes the darkness of sin and death forever and floods our lives with light, warmth and meaning.  There are a number of Easter Sunday Dawn Masses taking place around the country as follows:
•    Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora
At 6.30am on Easter Sunday morning the Dawn Mass of Easter will be offered in the open air on a rock behind Doolin Pier overlooking the Cliffs of Moher.  All are welcome to wrap up warm and join in adding this experience to the other parish liturgies of Easter.  Hot chocolate will be kindly served after Mass by the Doolin community.  If the weather is exceptionally stormy this Mass may be transferred to Doolin Church at the later time of 6.45am.
•    Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin
Dawn Mass will be celebrated on Easter Sunday on Mount Leinster. This is being organised by the parish of Bagnelstown, Co Carlow.  More details are available on www.kandle.ie.  There will be an Ecumenical Dawn Service at the Moat of Ardscull, Athy, Co Kildare on Easter Morning, 8th April at 6.30am.  There will be a short service of readings, hymns, reflection and prayers.  The service will be followed by a cup of tea/coffee at the Moat.  If the morning is wet, the Dawn Service will take place in the Church of Ireland Parish Centre, Janeville Lane, Carlow Road, Athy.  From Good Friday, there will be a reflective walk set-up around the Moat, to lead visitors around the Moat, and through the Easter Story.  This self-guided walk will be left in place until Easter Day.  All are very welcome to attend.
Dawn Mass will also take place at 6am in St. Conleth’s Church Garden, Newbridge, Co Kildare on Easter Sunday morning
•    Diocese of Kerry
Dawn Mass (as Gaeilge) will be held at the Teampall Geal, at Baile Riabhach (Ballymoreigh), overlooking Dingle Bay, 6am Easter Sunday.  All are welcome.

Holy Thursday
St Mary’s Cathedral
10.30am Morning Prayer – led by the Presentation Brothers Novitiate Community
7.00pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Adoration after Mass until Midnight

Muckross Church
8.00pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

Church of the Resurrection
7.30pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper followed by Adoration.
9-10pm – Holy Hour

Good Friday
St Mary’s Cathedral
10.30am Morning Prayer – led by Brother Sean Murphy (Franciscan Friar)
3.00pm Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s passion
9.00pm Stations of the Cross led by Bishop Bill Murphy

Church of the Resurrection
3.00pm Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s passion
7.30pm The Way of the Cross – Music, Prayer and Reflection using visual media

Holy Saturday
St Mary’s Cathedral
10.30am Morning Prayer – led by Religious Sisters of the Parish
No 6.15pm Mass
9.30pm Easter Vigil Mass with Bishop Bill. This will be concelebrated by all the priests of the parish

Easter Sunday
St Mary’s Cathedral
8.00am Easter Mass
10.30 Easter Mass
12noon Easter Mass

Church of Resurrection
9.30am Easter Mass

Muckross Church
10.00am Easter Mass

Additional information on events and services for Holy Week and Easter are available on www.catholicbishops.ie as part of a more extensive feature on Holy Week and Easter which includes homilies from Holy Week and Easter services, details of Pope Benedict’s schedule for Holy Week and Easter and information on the broadcast of services for the Easter Triduum.

Ends

Further information:
Catholic Communications Office, Maynooth: Martin Long 00 353 (0) 86 172 7678, and Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 310 4444