Saint Oliver Pilgrimage to Ballybarrack

Over one hundred (100) attended the annual Mass in honour of St. Oliver Plunkett held at Ballybarrack Shrine, on Sunday 13th July 2008 - on an overcast, but dry (thankfully) evening.  The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Paddy Rushe, who along with Fr. Padraig Keenan are priests of Holy Redeemer parish - the custodians of the Shrine.

The area was bedecked with bunting, and the altar adorned with flowers to mark this special occasion.  Members of the Holy Redeemer Parish choir led the congregation in singing God's praises as St. Oliver himself would have done over 300 years earlier at this shrine.

Fr. Paddy encouraged all those present to remember the great sacrifices that St. Oliver would have made in bringing the faith to these parts - at that time Ireland was a very different place; the Mass was outlawed, priests were scarce, even food, clothing and shelter were in short supply for Catholics.   Oliver was ultimately called to sacrifice his very life for the Gospel.  Fr. Paddy said that while we may not be called to make that sacrifice today, God still asks us to be ready to do whatever we need to do, in order to bring God's grace, peace, forgiveness and love to those around us - in the wordsof the Gospel, to be 'light' to the world!

In the year of Vocation, Fr. Rushe said, we are all called; first, to be holy, and then to express that holiness in whatever time or place we find ourselves, using the talents and abilities with which we have been blessed - to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Eucharist (The Mass) is Jesus' promise that we are not alone - that God is with us in this work, as he was with St. Oliver.

Concluding the Mass with a personal blessing of the Relic of St. Oliver Plunkett, Fr. Paddy invited prayers for the strengthening of the vocation of marriage, for an increase in vocations to priesthood and the religiuous life, and for a fuller understanding of the vocation of the single life.  Prayers for parents and grandparents, for young people facing choices in life and for those who are facing difficult times were also offered. Prayer for peace and reconciliation was highlighted; by reciting the prayer of St. Oliver which has been promoted (by Tommy Burns, Drogheda) for over ten (10) years, and which is believed to have been instrumental in bringing about successes in the current political situation which the island of Ireland is enjoying.

Fr. Paddy thanked all those concerned with organising and participating in the Mass, and acknowledged the great work which Joe Sands (and the Sands family throughout the years) has done in preserving the Shrine.  We look forward to next year's Mass.

You are welcome to attend the Mass for 2009, on Sunday 13thJuly 2009, at 3.00pm in the afternoon. Please Note the Change of Time (so as to avoid a clash with Blessing of the Graves).

To view more photographs of the day, click on the St. Oliver's Shrine link on the menu to the left.