Photocall for blessing of engaged couple at the Shrine of Saint Valentine
• Publication of 2013 ACCORD figures indicating demand for (i) marriage preparation, and for (ii) marriage counselling
You, or a representative, are invited to a photocall for the blessing of an engaged couple in front of the Shrine of Saint Valentine. Details:
Time and date 12:15pm on Thursday 13 February 2014
Venue Shrine of Saint Valentine in Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Whitefriar Street Church in the Archdiocese of Dublin.
In attendance Father Bernard Murphy O.Carm, Curate, Whitefriar Street Church, will bless the engaged couple Ms Helen Young and Mr Conor Kavanagh, both of whom are from Dublin. Helen is from Rathfarnham and Conor is from Harold’s Cross. The couple will be married in Rathfeigh Church in the Diocese of Meath on 26 June 2014.
This photocall will coincide with the publication of the 2013 figures for ACCORD Catholic Marriage Care Service. These figures will indicate demand for ACCORD’s two key services: marriage counselling, and separately, marriage preparation. Also in attendance at the photocall will be ACCORD representatives Ms Mary Johnson, Specialist in Marriage Counselling, and Ms Anne Coleman, Specialist in Marriage Education.
Notes to Editors
• ACCORD, Catholic Marriage Care Service, is an agency of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. The first ACCORD centre in Ireland was opened in 1962 at Saint Mary’s Parish, Belfast, in the Diocese of Down & Connor. ACCORD is a voluntary Catholic organisation which aims to promote a deeper understanding of Christian marriage and to offer people the means to safeguard and nourish their marriage and family relationships. ACCORD operates in 58 centres throughout the island of Ireland – North and South – and is committed to providing a professional service. Members, coming from a wide variety of backgrounds, are trained and work under supervision in accordance with best practice. The Child and Family Agency (RoI) is the major source of funding for ACCORD. ACCORD also operates with the support of the Health Service Executive (RoI) and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (NI) and various health trusts. Bishop Christopher Jones, Bishop of Elphin, is President of ACCORD
• Relics of Saint Valentine are interred in the Carmelite Church in Whitefriar Street, Dublin. Saint Valentine, a priest in ancient Rome, is regarded as the patron saint of couples in love, preparing for marriage and of married life. Saint Valentine was martyred on 14 February 250 AD. Pagan ritual associated 14 February with love and after his death this date became associated with Saint Valentine. In 1836 relics that were exhumed from the catacombs of Saint Hippolytus on the Via Tiburtina, then near Rome, were identified with Saint Valentine. These relics were placed in a casket, donated by Pope Gregory XVI, and transported to the Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin.
• Father Charles Hoey O.Carm, is Prior and Parish Priest of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Whitefriar Street Church in Dublin.
ENDS
For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678 or Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 310 4444.
