Pictured above are Bishop Leo O’Reilly, with some of the 40 people, from across the diocese of Kilmore, who have travelled to Krakow, Poland, to participate in the World Youth Day celebrations which are taking place there at present. Bishop Leo will be joining the pilgrims from his diocese in Krakow later this week.

Bishop Leo was the principal celebrant of the Mass of Sending, which was celebrated in the Chapel of the Kilmore Diocesan Pastoral Centre recently.   He was assisted by Fr. Rafal Siwek and Fr. Seán Maguire, both curates in the Cathedral Parish of Urney and Annagelliff, who will also be travelling with the pilgrimage. After the Mass, Bishop Leo was presented with one of the hoodies and t-shirts which were specially designed for the Kilmore participants.  Carina McGinnell, Diocesan Director for Youth and Young Adult Ministry, organised the Mass and the social event afterwards.  She will also accompany the pilgrims.  Also present was Seán Coll, Director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, which co-ordinated the arrangements for the pilgrimage.

The majority of pilgrims flew out on Monday 18 July and spent the week participating in the Paradise in the City Festival in the Diocese of Lodz before joining the others for the WYD programme in Krakow which will be attended by Pope Francis.  The pilgrims will also visit the famous Shrine of the Black Madonna at the Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa where they will celebrate Mass together before returning home to Ireland.

Carina McGinnell, Jenny Harte,Mary Leddy and Bishop Leo at World Youth Day 2016.

Bishop Leo, with Bishop Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath, at The Shrine of the Black Madonna, Czestochowa.