St. Oliver Plunkett Relics visit Diocesan Pastoral Centre

Relics of St. Oliver Plunkett visited the Conaty Chapel of the Kilmore Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Cavan on Tuesday 23 May 2023.

Local members of the Knights of Saint Columbanus carry the relics of St. Oliver Plunkett in procession through the grounds of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre at the beginning of the day.

The relics arrived at the Centre for a Liturgical Welcome celebrated by Bishop Martin Hayes at 10:00a.m. and were available for veneration until 10:00p.m. that evening.

The relics of St. Oliver Plunkett rest on the altar of The Conaty Chapel in the Diocesan Pastoral Centre

There was a lunch-time Mass in the Chapel at 1:15p.m. celebrated by Fr. Dermot Prior, PP Virginia, for those doing examinations at this time.  The homily was given by Canon Benedict Fee P.P., Clonoe, Co. Tyrone (Archdiocese of Armagh) and author of ‘Not Force Nor Might – The Gift of the Martyr’ and ‘In His Master’s Footsteps – The Way of the Cross in the Company of St. Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop and Martyr’.

Canon Benedict Fee, PP Clonoe, Archdiocese of Armagh

Canon Fee celebrated Mass at 5:45p.m. for the deceased members of the Knights of Saint Columbanus in the Diocese of Kilmore and delivered the homily.  Bishop Martin Hayes was the principal celebrant at the 8:00p.m. Mass and Canon Fee again gave the homily. Fr. Gerard Alwill, PP Knockninny, concelebrated at the Mass. The music for this Mass was provided by the choir from St. Mary’s Church, Teemore, Co. Fermanagh.

Bishop Martin Hayes celebrates Mass during the visit of the relics

Bishop Hayes presided at a Liturgical Farewell before the relics left the Chapel for their return to Drogheda.

Bishop Martin prays before the relics of St. Oliver Plunkett

There were opportunities to avail of the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the course of the day.

St. Oliver Plunkett was born at Loughcrew, near Oldcastle in Co. Meath on 1 November 1625. Having studied at the Irish College in Rome, he was ordained a priest in 1654 and became Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland in 1657. He maintained his duties in Ireland in the face of English persecution, reorganising the ravaged Irish Church, but was eventually arrested and tried for treason in London. Having being found guilty of high treason on perjured evidence, he was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn on 1 July 1681, and became the last Roman Catholic martyr to die in England. Oliver Plunkett was beatified in 1920 and canonised in 1975 by Pope Saint Paul VI, the first new Irish saint for almost seven hundred years. 

The Catholic Church categorises relics from saints in three: first, second and third class. Body parts such as blood, bones or even ashes of a saint fall under the first category. Clothing worn by the saint, such as liturgical vestments, are considered second class, and personal possessions third.  Catholics venerate the remains of a saint as an expression of reverence for their holiness of life, and to seek the saint’s intercession for spiritual aid, healing, and particular graces.