The Holy Family Church, Aughrim Street, Dublin, Friday 3 June
My plans for you are peace and not disaster to give you a future and a hope.
“My earnest prayer today is that we can begin to seek peace and not disaster and for a hope -filled future. I realise the necessity, indeed the urgency of praying for peace and healing.
We have here parents mourning their child, a painful reality, numbed by grief and sadness. A mother – who cherished her son and first loved him in the human order and a wider family bidding farewell: a father – who was called to receive news of his son’s shooting-chilling news no one wants to receive. Fear, pain, grief, anguish, bewilderment are experienced by the family.
Every tragedy has a human face. Beyond analysis, comment and speculation we have pain and tears.
Life is precious, Sacred, God given; Gareth’s primary concern was for the safety, wellbeing, care and protection of his son, Preston.
The Gospel we proclaim is the Gospel of Life. ‘I came that you may have life.’ The Gospel of the Good Shepherd which is associated with this Feast of the Sacred Heart speaks of Jesus’ love for the individual and God’s concern for each one of us.
We share this mission of hope and love and central to the thrust of this mission is the follower of Jesus who brings peace. Let your first words be ‘Peace to this house.’ This was the teaching of Jesus to us.
His words to his broken-hearted disciples having risen from the dead were again. ‘Peace be with you’
Breaking the cycle of violence is not easy. It needs courage, restraint, goodwill and right reason: and a desire for Peace.
We pray that those who may find thoughts of peace or possibility of working for peace difficult or impossible, that they may discover in the bonds of friendship, strength and support to overcome negative feelings. I know that the desire for peace is the springboard to a better future.
May the prince of peace guide and accompany us.
My plans for you are peace and not disaster to give you a future and a hope.
We commend the soul of Gareth to God’s merciful love.
We commend those who mourn to God’s merciful love.
We commend ourselves to God’s merciful love.
Notes:
· Please note that filming is not permitted in the grounds or inside of The Holy Family Church, Aughrim Street.
Further Information: Annette O’ Donnell, Director of Communications, Archdiocese of Dublin – 087 8143462.
