Press Reception in the Pontifical Irish College Rome

06 Apr 2005

PRESS RELEASE

6 APRIL 2005

PRESS RECEPTION IN THE

PONTIFICAL IRISH COLLEGE ROME

 

Dr Seán Brady Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland
cordially invites Irish journalists present in Rome to a  
Reception at the Pontifical Irish College, Via dei Santi
Quattro, 1 on Thursday, April 7th at 4pm.

RSVP Tel 06 772631
E Mail [email protected]

Further information:

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

NOTES:
* The Pontifical Irish College is located near the Basilica of Saint
John Lateran.
* The Irish Bishops present in Rome for the funeral of His Holiness
Pope John Paul II are His Eminence Desmond Cardinal Connell, Archbishop
Emeritus of Dublin, Archbishop Sean Brady of Armagh, Archbishop Diarmuid
Martin of Dublin, Bishop John Magee of Cloyne and Bishop Philip
Boyce of Raphoe.
* The President of the Episcopal Conference of Australia, Archbishop
Francis Carroll of Canberra and Goulburn will also attend the reception.  
* The Irish College, Rome was founded on January 1st 1628 by the Irish
Franciscan, Fr. Luke Wadding and the Italian Cardinal, Ludivico Ludovisi.
* It is the only surviving example of the large number of Irish seminaries
established on the European mainland during the penal law period in Ireland
to educate priests for the Irish Church.
* Past pupils include Saint Oliver Plunkett and Blessed Columba Marmion.  
* Today, while the primary function of the College remains the formation
of seminarians and priests for Ireland, it has also expanded its role to
include the education of clergy for other parts of the world.  
* The College serves as a centre for Irish pilgrims during the summer
holiday months.
* In addition, the Irish College serves as a centre for the Irish community
in Rome and as a focal point for Irish culture.
* In 2004, six of the College’s students were ordained priests.
* Each year over 200 Irish couples celebrate their weddings in the Irish College.
* The present rector is Monsignor Liam Bergin from the Diocese of Ossory.