Introduction by Breda McDonald – a Diocese of Cloyne coordinator for preparations for the World Meeting of Families (Dublin, 2018). Given in Holy Family Church, Youghal, 20th May 2017, prior to the celebration of Holy Mass
Bishop Crean, Reverend Fathers, fellow parishioners from all over the Diocese of Cloyne. My name is Breda McDonald and I was asked by Bishop Crean to be one of the coordinators with John Fitzgerald for the preparations for the World Meeting of Families (Dublin, 2018) in the Diocese of Cloyne.
I welcome you all to this celebration of the Eucharist as we launch our preparations. We hope that this time leading up to the World Meeting of Families in Dublin in August 2018 will be a time to:
- Celebrate the love and joy of family life,
- Pray for families,
- Reflect as Church on how we support families,
- and to promote and study the Church’s rich teaching on the Family.
Pope Francis has said that “The welfare of the family is decisive for the future of the world and that of the Church.” (Amoris Laetitia, 31)
During our ceremony Bishop Crean will commission Parish Ambassador Families who will help to promote ‘World Meeting of Family’ events in their parish and give us valuable feedback from the parish.
Bishop Crean will also bless our ‘World Meeting of Family’ candles that will go out to each of the 46 parishes in the Diocese. They symbolise the link between parishes and the diocese as we all prepare together. It is hoped that the candles will feature at any ‘World Meeting of Family’ parish events. Parish representatives who are present can collect their candles after the ceremony.
A special thanks to the priests and people of Youghal for hosting tonight’s celebration in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the dedication of this Holy Family Church. To all who have prepared for this evening and to all who will assist in the Mass, Thank you. After Mass the Parish has invited us all to refreshments in the hall, I thank them for this and I hope you will be able to take a few minutes after Mass to avail of this hospitality.
PHOTOS to FOLLOW.
