Bishop Buckley offers Mass for victims of the air crash at Cork Airport

14 Feb 2011

PRESS RELEASE
13 February 2011

Bishop Buckley offers Mass for victims of the air crash at Cork Airport

Bishop John Buckley, Bishop of Cork and Ross, celebrated Mass at 12 o’clock today in the Church of the Assumption, Ballyphehane, Cork, for the victims of the air crash at Cork Airport last Thursday (10 February).  Bishop Buckley was joined by Canon Michael Murphy, Parish Priest of Ballyphehane, who attended the scene of the accident as Airport Chaplain.  Cork Airport is in the Parish of Ballyphehane.

At the Mass President Mary McAleese and An Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD were each represented by their Aide de Camp.  The Spanish Ambassador to Ireland was also represented at the Mass.  Public representatives, members of An Garda Síochána and the Airport Police also attended the Mass.

In the course of his homily, Bishop Buckley said “the news from Cork airport last Thursday morning touched the hearts of all people.  We ask Lord, why did you allow our brothers to die so tragically in our city?  Why did you allow this to happen?  Why did you break the hearts of their loved ones?  Why did you cause such suffering to those who were injured and cared for in Cork University Hospital?”

“The Bible,” Bishop Buckley added, “is full of cries like these.  On the Cross, Jesus himself said ‘My God, my God, why did you abandon me?’  All we can say is this: there are no answers.  The Lord’s ways are not our ways.   Suffering and death are mysterious.  Last Thursday

we could all identify with the words of Martha in the Gospel, ‘If you had been here, my brother would not have died’.  But the Lord is here.

The Lord never abandons us.  The Lord is close to us always.  Jesus destroyed suffering and death through His Resurrection.  The Resurrection of Christ, which is the core of our faith, is the answer to the tears that were shed last Thursday and the tears that we all shed at the graves of our loved ones.”

Bishop Buckley said “That is ‘Good News’ and, on occasions like this, we all need ‘Good News’.”

Bishop Buckley also paid tribute to the emergency services at Cork Airport, in the City and the Medical staff of Cork University Hospital for their quick response, care and professionalism.

ENDS
Further information
Rev Dr Tom Deenihan, Diocesan Secretary, Diocese of Cork and Ross 00353 (0) 21 4301717
Martin Long, Catholic Communications Office, Maynooth 00 353 (0) 86 1727678