Cardinal Brady receives Armagh pilgrim walk at Eucharistic Congress, RDS

14 Jun 2012

Cardinal Brady receives Armagh pilgrim walk at Eucharistic Congress, RDS

At 4.00am this morning after a short prayer service, over forty women, men, and young people set out on a pilgrimage walk from Old Mellifont Abbey in Co Louth, Archdiocese of Armagh, to the 50th International Eucharistic Congress which is taking place this week in the RDS, and Croke Park,  Dublin.  After the reading of passages from Sacred Scripture a lantern was lit with a special 50th International Eucharistic Congress candle.

The theme for this pilgrimage walk was inspired by a line from the dedicated Eucharistic Congress prayer: Lord, be our companion on life’s pilgrim way.

Father Brian White, curate of Blackrock Parish, Co Louth, and director of youth services for the archdiocese led the forty mile pilgrim walk via Saint Peter’s Church, Drogheda, Saint Mary’s Church, Julianstown, Co Meath, Blake’s Cross, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, Swords, Griffith Avenue, and finally to the RDS, where they were received by Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.  Pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Dublin and the Diocese of Meath joined the walk en route.

The theme for today’s Eucharistic Congress programme in the RDS is: ‘Reconciliation in our Communion’.  The schedule began with Morning Prayer, which was followed by a Liturgy of Reconciliation (involving prayers, music and hymns) and which was presided over by Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.  Pilgrims could avail of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) throughout the day.  In the afternoon, in the main RDS arena, Catechesis (discussion on reconciliation in our lives) was led by Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, Archbishop of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.  The daily testimony was delivered by Mr Richard Moore, from Derry, founder of Children in Crossfire.

Cardinal Brady was chief celebrant at the daily outdoor Mass which began at 4.00pm in the arena.  Cardinal Brady’s homily which reflects the theme Reconciliation in our Communion, will be published shortly.

ENDS

Media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 310 4444