Please see below a selection of events and services for Holy Week and Easter in Irish dioceses. This section will be updated as additional information becomes available:
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.
For a list of other events in Dublin parishes please see www.dublindiocese.ie
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
Turas na Croise – Máméan
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. Joe John Mac Con Iomaire will sing the caoineadh to accompany each station.
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.
Diocese of Cork and Ross
Ballincollig Parish (Cork) will have the Stations of the Cross outdoors at 12pm on Good Friday – very impressive last year. Taize evening at 8pm on Good Friday.
Diocese of Ferns
April 3, 2012: Mass of Chrism, St Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorthy 8.00 pm. All welcome
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.
There is a long tradition in the Church of gathering in the darkness in 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. No other sermon is necessary. 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 take place at 6 a.m. in St. Conleth’s Church Garden, Newbridge, co Kildare on Easter Sunday morning 8th April 2012.
Mass for Easter Sunday morning will be broadcast on KFM at 10am from Cill Mhuire Church in Newbridge with celebrant Fr Ruairi O Domhnaill
There will be Outdoor Stations of the Cross in Newbridge at 11.30 a.m. Later on there will be an Inter-Church Way of the Cross starting at 7.00 p.m. at St Conleth’s Church, Newbridge
Outdoor Stations of the Cross will take place on Good Friday in Donadea Forest at 11am, with Kilcock and the Clane Union of Parishes.
Diocese of Kerry
Dawn Mass (as Gaeilge) at the Teampall Geal, at Baile Riabhach (Ballymoreigh), overlooking Dingle Bay, 6am Easter Sunday. All 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
Diocese of Killala
Bishop John Fleming, Bishop of Killala – diary for Holy Week and Easter.
Palm Sunday: 9.30am Mass in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina.
11.00am Mass in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina.
Tuesday, 3 April: 6.30pm. Mass of Chrism in St Muredach’s Cathedral,Ballina.
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
Chrism Mass 2012
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 Limerick
Easter – a journey of Hope
Following on the success of the Diocesan Christmas service which was held in St Johns Cathedral, there will be an Easter presentation:
Easter – A journey of Hope will be held in St Josephs church on Tuesday 3rd April (Holy Week), at 8pm. Coming just as we begin the Easter ceremonies, this service will tell the story of the suffering, death and ressurection of Christ, in word and song. it is an ideal opportunity for the people of the Diocese to come together once again as a community to prepare for and celebrate this great event of our salvation.
Admission is free of charge, but by ticket only. Tickets are available in your local parish or from the Pastoral Centre.
Diocese of Meath
Click here for a list ceremonies in parishes in Meath diocese during Holy Week.
The annual Chrism Mass will take place on Wednesday evening at 7.30pm, celebrated by Bishop Smith with most of the priests from the Diocese of Meath, will involve volunteers who will be taking an active part at the 50th International Eucharistic Congress. The Diocese of Meath has registered the largest number of volunteers outside of Dublin. 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. Outlining the importance of observing Good Friday, Bishop Smith explains:
“Good Friday invites the community of faith to pause for reflection. The symbol of the Cross tells us that God wishes to draw us into a closer relationship with Him and with our neighbour. As Jesus gives His life for us on the Cross, so too we are called to give our lives at the service of God and each other. There has been a tendency for Good Friday to be seen as the beginning of the Easter bank holiday weekend. But this misses an important moment in our spiritual lives, and an opportunity to see how we are really called to live as a Christian community.”
Diocese of Raphoe
Holy Thursday 5th April 2012 – Chrism Mass in St Eunan’s Cathedral, Letterkenny at 11am.
Chief Celebrant: Most Rev Philip Boyce, OCD, Bishop of Raphoe
Good Friday 6th April – Celebraion of the Lord’s Passion
Diocese of Waterford and Lismore
On Thursday 5th April, the Chrism Mass will be celebrated in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Barronstrand Street, Waterford @ 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.
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