HOMILY FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MASS Basilica of St Pius X, Lourdes World Communications Day, 28 May 2017 Dear fellow pilgrims, we are here in Lourdes on the 7th Sunday of Easter, after the feast of the Ascension and before the feast of Pentecost. Our first reading today describes this in-between time when the apostles […]
FUNERAL MASS FR CHARLES HEEREY 30 April 2017 The story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus is one Fr Charlie would have used at many of the funeral Masses he celebrated in the course of his long, and very fruitful ministry. I think he would be very happy to have it […]
EASTER 2017 One of the most common sights during the years of the recession was the ghost estate. There’s something very sad about an abandoned housing development – half-finished houses, walls but no roofs, gaping holes where windows and doors were meant to be, overgrown mounds of clay or sand or gravel and scattered bits […]
CHRISM MASS 13 April 2017 In a few minutes I will bless the Holy Oils that will be used in conferring the sacraments in our diocese during the coming year. Today we commemorate the institution of two of the sacraments in a special way – Holy Orders and Eucharist. The Eucharist is remembered later today […]
I welcome the publication today by Judge Anthony Hart of the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry Report. From the outset I wish to apologise to everyone who suffered abuse perpetrated by a priest or religious. To abuse a child is a most abhorrent act, is evil and to be condemned unreservedly. Today I am thinking in […]
NEW YEAR MESSAGE 2017 Bishop Leo O’Reilly New Year’s Day is the day that the Church celebrates the annual World Day of Peace. This year marks the fiftieth World Day of Peace. It was inaugurated by Pope Paul VI and, since then, there has been a message each year from the Holy Father to mark […]
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2016 Bishop Leo O’Reilly Christmas greetings to you wherever you are today. Every family has their own particular way of marking Christmas, their own traditions and rituals which are often handed down from parents or grandparents. Still, we are all united in remembering and celebrating the birth of Christ our Saviour. Christmas, we […]
MASS FOR CLOSING OF YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE Cathedral of St Patrick and St Felim Cavan 31 January 2016 It is providential that the Year of Consecrated Life ends some weeks after the beginning of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. The intersection of the two years points to an important link between mission of consecrated […]
CHURCH UNITY WEEK Church of Ireland, Cavan 24 January 2016 My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it is good that we are here during this week of prayer for Christian unity to pray together and to express the faith that we share in common. We are already united by the Spirit living in […]
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK 2016 St Ninidh’s Church Derrylin The theme of Catholic Schools Week this year is: ‘Challenged to proclaim God’s Mercy’. The theme of God’s Mercy was chosen because this year is the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Pope Francis inaugurated the Year of Mercy on 8th December last by opening the Holy Door in […]
