Prayer for the Church in Ireland

God of our fathers,
renew us in the faith which is our life and salvation,
the hope which promises forgiveness and interior renewal,
the charity which purifies and opens our hearts
to love you, and in you, each of our brothers and sisters.

Lord Jesus Christ,
may the Church in Ireland renew her age-old commitment
to the education of our young people in the way of truth and goodness, holiness and generous service to society.
Holy Spirit, comforter, advocate and guide,
inspire a new springtime of holiness and apostolic zeal
for the Church in Ireland.
May our sorrow and our tears,
our sincere effort to redress past wrongs,
and our firm purpose of amendment
bear an abundant harvest of grace
for the deepening of the faith
in our families, parishes, schools and communities,
for the spiritual progress of Irish society,
and the growth of charity, justice, joy and peace
within the whole human family.
To you, Triune God,
confident in the loving protection of Mary,
Queen of Ireland, our Mother,
and of Saint Patrick, Saint Brigid and all the saints,
do we entrust ourselves, our children,
and the needs of the Church in Ireland.
Amen.

Pope Benedict XVI
19th March, 2010
Solemnity of St. Joseph

Pilgrimage to Charleville, Co. Cork

It was the first occasion that our Association made a pilgrimage to the Diocese of Cloyne.

Charleville, as its name suggests, was a plantation town, founded by Roger Boyle, Lord Orrery in the year after the restoration of King Charles II.  However, it is as the seed-bed of nationalist poets, prelates and patriots that Charleville is most famous.  It was the birthplace of Seán Mac Domhnaill and Daniel Mannix.  Éamon de Valera walked from the nearby townland of Bruree to school there each day.

The beautiful Church of the Holy Cross is only 110 years old.  Canon Lebocq of the Institute of Christ the King, based in Limerick, was the celebrant of a wonderfully reverent Mass.

Traditional Latin Mass in Charleville, County Cork