Press Release
16th September 2004
Bishops commemorate 1979 visit to Ireland by Pope John Paul I1
> Archbishop Seán Brady is principal celebrant at an open Mass in Clonmacnois
at 3pm on September 19th which will include a special message from the Holy
Father to the people of Ireland;
> Triduum of events covering September 29th, 30th (part televised) and October 1st;
> Televised ‘Mission Alive’ Mass from Cork on Sunday October 3rd ;
> Audio versions of the homilies delivered by the Holy Father during his Irish visit
will be available on www.catholiccommunications.ie;
% Publications by Veritas with a forward by Archbishop Seán Brady: (i) the Holy Father’s 1979 speeches and homilies delivered while in Ireland and, (ii) themes taken from the Holy Father’s speeches and homilies delivered while in Ireland.
The Irish Bishops’ Conference is celebrating the 1979 visit of Pope John Paul II with
two national events and in addition, these national events will be complemented with a
triduum of celebrations corresponding to the visit dates 25 years ago. The events are:
> Clonmnacnoise on Sunday 19″ September;
> “Mission Alive” in Cork on Sunday October 3d; and,
>Three days of celebrations around Ireland corresponding to the original visit dates.
Clonmacnoise will involve celebration of Mass by the Archbishop of Armagh and
Primate of All Ireland Dr Seán Brady. Every diocese has been invited to send
representatives. It was agreed that this event would be part-pilgrimage, with attendees
encouraged to walk to the monastic site from designated points near the site.
The Cork celebration will start in Holy Spirit Church, Dennehy’s Cross, in Cork city on
Sunday October 3d and will initiate “Mission Alive” week (see details below). It
involves the celebration of a televised Mass by Archbishop of Bulawayo Pius Ncube
from the Republic of Zimbabwe will open “Mission Alive” week. In keeping with the
missionary theme, this event will emphasise that over the last 25 years, the Pope has been
the missionary par excellence. The theme of the Mass is “Proclaim the Message”.
“Mission Alive” will be held in the GAA Sports Centre in Bishopstown Co Cork from 3″‘
to 6″ October involving photo stands telling story of contemporary mission. Over the
three days schools, parish communities in the south will attend this interactive exhibition.
The triduurn of celebrations around Ireland will involve:
> September 29″ Wednesday: Masses to be celebrated in diocesan cathedrals around
Ireland;
> September 30″ Thursday: Sung Evening Prayer of the Church in Maynooth College,
dedicated to priests and religious.
> October la Friday: Parish Masses, with possible themes focusing on the sick and/or
the missions.
Clonmacnois – September 19& 2004
The Diocese of Ardagh & Clonmacnois will host the commemoration on the occasion of
the annual “Pattern” (traditional Pilgrimage) of St. Ciariin who was the founder of this
once important monastery. Although Pope John Paul II came to Ireland in 1979 for the
centenary of the Knock Apparition, it was his visit to Clonmacnois that clearly fascinated
him.
The principal celebrant and preacher will be Dr Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and
Primate of All Ireland. Also in attendance will be the local bishop and Bishop of Ardagh
and Clonmacnois, Dr Colm O’Reilly, the Bishop of Cloyne Dr John Magee and the
Bishop of Meath Dr Michael Smith. The latter two bishops played key roles in
organising the Papal Visit of 1979.
Pilgrims from all over Ireland will gather at Clonmacnois for this occasion. The
ceremony will include the traditional pilgrimage prayers around the monastic ground,
combined with short extracts from Papal addresses during the 1979 visit. Monks from
Glenstal Abbey along with local choirs will assist the celebration.
Notes for Editors re Clonmacnois
>The local National School is available for journalists as regards desks and chairs, and
some telephone points for email purposes are available;
> These is a digital OPW map of Clonmacnois and is available on
> With the road network and lack of bus bays at the site, the organisers wish to remind
people that it will only be possible to reach the site in minibuses or by private car.
Stewards will direct pilgrims to the designated parking places. People are asked to be
mindful of the need to bring water, to wear sensible shoes and clothes as the weather
can be changeable. Limited seating is available for people with special needs. Due to
the antiquity of the site, people are reminded to follow the directions of the stewards
to ensure safety on this ancient site.
> We are grateful for the help and co-operation of the Office of Public Works, the
Reserve Defence Forces and local volunteers in co-coordinating this special
ceremony.
“Mission Alive”
Holy Spirit Church, Dennehy’s Cross, Cork City – October 3 rd 2004
“Mission Alive” has been in existence since Jubilee 2000. Previously Mission Sunday
consisted solely of a hnd raising collection. “Mission Alive” however, as a Catholic
Church awareness raising initiative, is broader than this. It focuses on our understating of
mission and looks at the changing face of missions.
Now each year a different venue around Ireland is chosen.
– “Mission Alive” will start with the celebration of Mass by Archbishop of
Bulawayo Pius Ncube fiom the Republic of Zimbabwe, on Sunday October 3rd.
Mass will be televised on R e 1 and takes place in the Holy Spirit Church,
Dennehy’s Cross, in Cork city at 1 1 :05 am. In keeping with the missionary
theme, this event emphasises that, over the last 25 years, the Pope has been the
missionary par excellence. The theme of this Mas is “Proclaim the Message”;
– “Mission Alive” festival will be held in the GAA Sports Centre in Bishopstown
Co Cork from Sunday October 3d to the 6″ October. It involves photo stands
telling the story of contemporary mission. Over the three days schools and parish
communities will attend this interactive exhibition; – throughout the whole country “Mission Alive” focuses on the theme of mission;
– “Mission Alive” in 2004 is supporting the ‘Day for Life’ which has also been
designated for October 3d. This year’s ‘Day for Life’ involves the publication of
a pastoral letter on suicide issued by the Irish Bishops’ Conference. This year’s
Day for Life theme provides the opportunity to highlight the Holy Father’s
teachings on the sacredness of human life.
Triduum of Events – 29th ,30th September and lst October
Corresponding to the actual dates of the Pope’s 1979 visit to Ireland, the Irish Bishops’
Conference has organised the following triduum (three days) of events:
> September 29th 2004
Masses to be celebrated by bishops in diocesan cathedrals around Ireland;
> September 30th 2004
Also as part of the Irish Bishops’ Conference silver jubilee celebrations of the1 979
visit to Ireland by Pope John Paul 11, an Evening Prayer of the Church will take place
in the College Chapel in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth at 7:30pm on Thursday
September 30″ 2004. This celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours~EveningP rayer of
the Church will be sung by the College Choir and presided over by the Apostolic
Nuncio His Excellency Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto. It will be attended by
seminarians, priests, vocations directors, leaders of sisters, brothers and religious
communities in Ireland and lay students from the university. Part of the event will be
broadcast on RTÉ television.
> October 1st 2004
Parish Masses, with themes addressing the sanctity of human life, the sick and the
missions.
Audio versions of 1979 papal homilies –www.catho1iccommunications.ie
From Sunday September 27th , the following homilies and speech by Pope John Paul 11
will be available on the Catholic Communications Office website
www.catho1icommunications.ie as audio download files:
> Homily by the Holy Father at Mass in the Phoenix Park on September 29’h, 1979;
> Homily by the Holy Father at the Mass in Drogheda on September 29&, 1979;
> Homily of Holy Father at Mass for Youth in Galway on September 30′, 1979;
> Homily of Holy Father in Knock on September 30th, 1979;
>Speech by Holy Father to seminarians in Maynooth on October 1st, 1979;
>Homily by Holy Father in Limerick on October 1st, 1979.
In order to listen to these audio files using your computer, your computer must have
certain minimum specifications so as to successfully install the relevant software, called
RealOne Player. The free version of the RealOne Player can be downloaded from
www.real.com. When the player is downloaded, click on the file that sets up the software
on your computer.
For further information contact Martin Long 086 17 27 678
