Cardinal Seán Brady and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin to celebrate the Festival Day of St Oliver Plunkett

03 Jul 2009

PRESS RELEASE
3 July 2009

MEDIA DIARY NOTICE:

Cardinal Seán Brady and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin to celebrate the Festival Day of St Oliver Plunkett, Drogheda, on Sunday 5 July

You, or a representative, are invited to attend the celebration of the Festival Day of St Oliver Plunkett in Drogheda this Sunday 5 July.  Details:

3.00pm Procession

A procession of the relics of St Oliver Plunkett will leave Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Drogheda, at 3pm to arrive at St Peter’s Church, West Street, at 4pm.

4.00pm Mass

The procession will arrive for Mass in St Peter’s Church, West Street, at 4pm.  Chief celebrant will be Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.  Concelebrants will include: Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland, who will give the homily; Canon James Carroll, St Peter’s Parish, Drogheda; Fr Denis Nulty, representing the Diocese of Meath; and Mgr Harcourt-Blackett from Bridgetown, Barbados.  Music at the Mass will be by St Peter’s Male Voice Choir, directed by Mr Edward Holly.

Notes for Editors
  • St Oliver Plunkett was a former Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland who was martyred in Tyburn, England, in 1681. He was canonised as a martyr by Pope Paul VI in 1975.
  • The 2009 procession will be led by a colour party which is drawn from the local scouting troop and is representative of local Catholic organisations as well as visiting pilgrim groups.  The procession, which has involved up to 200 people in the past, traditionally includes the Knights of Columbanus and members of other Orders who carry the relics of St Oliver Plunkett over the mile-long route between the two churches.  The Carlingford Pipe Band will lead the 2009 procession.
  • Each year thousands of pilgrims visit St Oliver Plunkett’s shrine in St Peter’s Church, Drogheda, in the Archdiocese of Armagh, to venerate his relics and to learn about his life story.  Pilgrims pray for the sick and troubled, for family and friends.  They fittingly turn to St Oliver, who was martyred for his faith in a time of political, religious and social turmoil, to pray for his intercession concerning conflict areas at home and abroad.
  • The Patron saints of the Archdiocese of Armagh are: St Patrick, St Malachy and St Oliver Plunkett.
  • Each year, on the first Sunday of July, celebrations of the life of St Oliver also take place at his birthplace in Loughcrew, Oldcastle in the Diocese of Meath.

Further information:
Martin Long, Director of Communications (086 172 7678)
Kathy Tynan, Communications Officer (086 817 5674)