Relics of St. Oliver Plunkett visit Diocesan Pastoral Centre

Hundreds of people, young and old alike, from across the diocese of Kilmore and beyond visited the Chapel of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Cavan recently to pray before the relics of St. Oliver Plunkett.

The relics arrived at the Centre at 10:00a.m. and Fr. Donal Kilduff, Diocesan Secretary, conducted a welcoming liturgy.

The relics were on display for veneration by the faithful until 10:00p.m. that evening.

There was a lunch-time Mass in the Chapel at 1:15p.m. offered by Fr. Kevin Fay, Chaplain to Loreto and St. Patrick’s Colleges in Cavan, for those doing examinations at this time.

Fr. Gabriel Kelly, parish priest of Kinawley-Killesher and a former student of the Pontifical Irish College in Rome where St. Oliver also studied, was the principal celebrant of Mass at 5:45p.m. and also delivered the homily.  He was assisted by Fr. Johnny Cusack, CC Ballinamore; Fr. Oliver Skelly, PP Coole (Diocese of Meath); and by Deacon Andy Brady.

Monsignor Liam Kelly, parish priest of Kilsherdany and Drung and Vicar General of the Diocese of Kilmore, was the principal celebrant and homilist at the 8:00p.m. Mass. The music for this Mass was provided by the Belturbet Church Choir under the directorship of Earnan Gilleran who was also the organist.

Fr. Ultan McGoohan, currently on sabbatical, celebrated a short liturgy of farewell at 10:00p.m. before the relics left the Pastoral Centre.

Opportunities to avail of the Sacrament of Reconciliation were also made available during the course of the day.

This was the third annual visit of the relics and was organised by the Kilmore Diocesan Pastoral Centre with the assistance of the Knights of Saint Columbanus in Cavan and Drogheda.