PRESS RELEASE

31 MARCH 2006

BISHOPS CELEBRATE THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY

OF THE DEATH OF POPE JOHN PAUL II -UPDATED

Sunday next, 2 April 2006, is the first anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II.
Irish Bishops are marking this anniversary by remembering the late Pope at Masses in
their dioceses on this date and by celebrating a special Mass for him on Monday 3 April.

These special Masses will be an opportunity for all – and in particular for the Polish
community in Ireland – to celebrate the legacy of Pope John Paul II’s influence on
humanity.

The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland Dr Seán Brady said: “It is almost
one year since the late Pope John Paul II gave to the world a marvellous example of how
to face death peacefully and courageously. It was Easter time, of course, and the eve
of Mercy Sunday, a time when the Risen Christ tells us not be afraid but to put our trust
in his mercy.

“Now, one year later, as we prepare to celebrate the first anniversary of Pope John Paul’s
death we are also preparing to celebrate the anniversary of the death of Christ. Pope
John Paul II bore his suffering with great patience and so gave hope to all who suffer
at this time.”

The Irish Bishops have commissioned a special prayer in memory of Pope John Paul II
which is available in English, Irish and Polish at www.catholiccommunications.ie

On Sunday 2 April, RTÉ 1 intends to broadcast a television studio Mass at 11:15am,
celebrated by Fr Pat McManus, from Mount Merrion parish in Dublin. That night there
will also be a special prayer for the late Pope in An Evening Prayer, after the Late
News.

Nationwide on RTÉ 1 television will film a special commemoration programme, with the
Polish community in Cork, at the exact time of the Pope’s death, for transmission later
in the week.

RTÉ television and radio news will also cover local celebrations as well as anniversary
events in Rome.

NOTES TO EDITORS
Dioceses celebrating the first anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II:

ARDAGH AND CLONMACNOISE:
The Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Bishop Colm O’Reilly will celebrate Mass at
Clonmacnoise on Sunday 2nd April preceded by prayers in the monastic grounds where
Pope John Paul walked during his visit to Ireland in 1979. Some Polish people will
participate.

ARMAGH:
The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland Dr Seán Brady, will be the main
celebrant at Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh at 11.00 am on Sunday 2nd April
to mark this occasion. It is hoped that members of the Polish community in the Armagh
area and members of other migrant groups will take part in this anniversary Mass. The
Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh Dr Gerard Clifford will celebrate an anniversary Mass for
the late Pope John Paul II on Sunday 2 April, at 11.00 am, in St Peter’s Church,
Drogheda. Archbishop Brady has also encouraged parishes to mark this occasion in
some way at local level.

CASHEL AND EMLY
Archbishop Dermot Clifford will be administering the Sacrament of Confirmation in
the Cathedral to 120 children at the weekend. He will remind the confirmation
candidates and the congregation of the first anniversary of Pope John Paul’s death.
He will also remind them in particular of Pope John Paul’s apostolate to young people.
All the children remember Pope John Paul’s famous sentence, “Young people of Ireland,
I love you”. He will refer to Youth Week in Rome in 2000 AD when two million young
people attended the Mass said by Pope John Paul. Even though the young people had
the freedom of the city, including all the gardens, and free travel on public transport,
there wasn’t a single incidence of vandalism during the whole week. He will quote the
words of St. Catherine of Sienna of which Pope John Paul II was fond; “Young people,
if you are what you should be you will set the whole world ablaze”.

The following Prayer of the Faithful will be said at all Masses in the Archdiocese of
Cashel & Emly over the coming weekend.

On this the first anniversary of his death, we thank God for the life of Karol Wojtyla,
and in particular, we thank Him for his twenty-six and a half years of ministry as Pope
John Paul 11. We remember with gratitude his unselfish service to the world and the
inspirational witness he provided. His authentic witness to Christ was celebrated by
young people searching for the right path, and his example in bearing physical suffering
gave courage to many who are called by God to carry similar crosses. We pray with
confidence that he has entered the Father’s House and from there will continue to
guide us.
Lord hear us.

CLOYNE:
The Bishop of Cloyne, Dr John Magee, will participate in the Anniversary Mass for the
late Pope which will be held on Monday evening, 3 April, in St. Peter’s Basilica in
the Vatican. Bishop Magee is a former private secretary to Pope John Paul II.

CORK AND ROSS:
To mark the first anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II Bishop John Buckley,
Bishop of Cork and Ross will be Chief Celebrant this Sunday 2nd April, 2006 at the
Mass for the Polish Community resident in Cork, at 6pm in St. Augustine’s Church,
Washington Street, Cork, where over 1,000 Polish people will be in attendance.

Bishop Buckley will be paying tribute to the late Pope, especially his respect for
the dignity of every human person and the example and inspiration that he gave to
so many people throughout the world.

DOWN AND CONNOR:
The Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Patrick Walsh will celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s
Cathedral, Belfast on Sunday 2nd April at 12.00 noon. There will be prayers for Pope
John Paul II at all Masses in the Diocese on 1st/2nd April.

FERNS:
The Apostolic Administrator of Ferns Bishop Eamonn Walsh will celebrate the 10am Mass
in St. Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorthy on Sunday 2nd April. A special invitation has
been extended to members of the Polish community to attend.

GALWAY:
Galway Diocese will celebrate Pope John Paul II ‘s Anniversary on Monday April
3rd at 6pm in Galway Cathedral.

KILDARE AND LEIGHLIN:
The Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin Dr Jim Moriarty will celebrate Mass in the Cathedral
of the Assumption, Carlow on Sunday 2nd April at 11.00am. Later that day Bishop Moriarty
will travel to St Conleth’s Parish in Newbridge to join members of the Polish Community
for their weekly Mass in Polish.

KILLALA:
The Diocese of Killala will mark the First Anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul
II with an Anniversary Mass in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina, on Monday evening,
April 3rd at 6.10.pm. The Bishop of Killala Dr John Fleming will celebrate this Mass.

KILMORE:
On Sunday 2nd April there will be a special holy hour with benediction in St Clare’s
Chapel, Cavan beginning at 7:30pm. On Monday 3rd April Bishop Leo O’Reilly will
celebrate a special Mass for Pope John Paul II in the Cathedral of St Patrick and St
Felim, Cavan at 10.00am. There will also be prayers offered at all Masses in the diocese over
the weekend of 1/2 April.

LIMERICK:
Bishop Donal Murray will celebrate the 12 noon Mass at St. John’s Cathedral, Limerick
on Sunday 2nd April at which Pope John Paul 11 will be remembered. Members of
the Polish community resident in the Cathedral parish will be attending. Prayers to
mark the Anniversary will be said at Masses in Churches throughout the Diocese also.

MEATH:
To commemorate the 1st anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II the Diocese of
Meath has produced resources for parishes and for schools including the prayer for
the beatification of Pope John Paul II. These resources are available on the diocesan
website at: www.dioceseofmeath.ie

OSSORY:
There will be mass in St John’s Church Kilkenny at 7.30pm followed by exposition of
the Blessed Sacrament. At 9.57 the Divine Mercy Chaplet will be recited and a candle
light procession will take place from this church to the City Hall. The organisation
of this has been jointly handled by the Parish Team and the Polish nationals who
participate in the evening mass, which includes readings and prayers in Polish, in St
John’s every Sunday evening.

WATERFORD AND LISMORE:
The first anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II will be marked in the diocese
of Waterford and Lismore by Mass celebrated by Bishop William Lee in St. John’s Church,
Waterford City, at 12.00 noon on Sunday 2nd April 2006. At Masses throughout the diocese
on Sunday 2nd April the late Holy Father will be remembered in prayers, particularly in
the Prayers of the Faithful.

Further information on diocesan events is available at www.catholiccommunications.ie
under the ‘Special Features Archive’.

Vatican marks the first anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II
In St. Peter’s Square at 5.30 p.m. on Monday, April 3, Pope Benedict XVI will preside
at a Mass marking the first anniversary of the death of John Paul II.

At 9.00p.m. on Sunday, April 2, a year to the day after the late pontiff’s demise,
Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the Pope’s vicar general for the diocese of Rome, will preside
at the recitation of the Rosary in St. Peter’s Square. Following the recitation, the
Holy Father will greet those present from the window of his private study.

Pope John Paul II:
Pope John Paul II visited Ireland on 29, 30 September and 1 October, 1979. Ireland
was the third visit of his Pontificate. The Holy Father’s first visit was to the
Dominican Republic, Mexico and the Bahamas, his second visit was to Poland and his
third visit was to Ireland and the United States.

Karol Józef Wojtyla was elected Pope John Paul II on 16 October 1978. He was the
263rd successor of St Peter. During his Pontificate he undertook 145 trips in Italy,
the last being Loreto in September 2004, and he undertook 104 pilgrimages outside Italy,
the last being Lourdes in August 2004.

Karol Józef Wojtyla was born in Wadowice (Kraków), Poland, 18 May 1920. He was
ordained a priest in 1946, appointed Auxiliary Bishop to Archbishop Mons. Eugeniusz
Baziak of Kraków in 1958. Designated Metropolitan Bishop of Kraków 1963, Papal Bull
for the appointment of Archbishop of Kraków 1964, consecrated Cardinal in 1967, and
was elected successor to Pope John Paul I, on 16 October, 1978 (the first non-Italian
pope in 455 years) taking the name John Paul II.

Pope John Paul II was one of the longest serving Pope’s. He died at 8.37pm (local time)
on Saturday 2nd April 2005.

Special feature at www.catholicbishops.ie:
Audio links to the Pope’s 1979 homilies and speeches in Ireland, are available on
www.catholicbishops.ie in the “Special Features Archive”

Ends
31st March 2006

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