The Diocese of Clonfert has published details of their Holy Week ceremonies for 2017. Bishop John Kirby, Bishop of Clonfert, will lead a number of the Holy Week ceremonies throughout the diocese.
The Chrism Mass was celebrated by Bishop Kirby and the priests of the Diocese on Wednesday evening, 12 April. During the Chrism Mass, the Holy Oils of Chrism, Baptism and Oil of the Sick were blessed for use in the diocese throughout during the year and the priests renewed their priestly commitment.
Today, Holy Thursday, Bishop Kirby will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Creagh, Ballinasloe at 8.00pm. The Mass of the Lord’s Supper will also be celebrated at 8.00pm in St Brendan’s Cathedral, Loughrea, and will be followed by Adoration at the Altar of Repose until 11.00pm.
On Good Friday, 14 April, Bishop Kirby will lead the Stations of the Cross through the streets in Ballinasloe at 12.00 noon and will preside at the Solemn Celebration of the Lord’s Passion in St Michaels’ Church, Ballinasloe at 3pm. A Solemn Celebration of the Lord’s Passion will also take place in St Brendan’s Cathedral at 3.00pm, with Stations of the Cross at 7.00pm.
Holy Saturday celebrations will begin with a traditional Slavic blessing of Easter food at 11.00am in St Brendan’s Cathedral. The Easter Vigil will be celebrated by Bishop Kirby in the Cathedral at 8.00pm.
On Easter Sunday, 16 April, Bishop Kirby will celebrate the 9.00am Mass in the Carmelite Abbey, Loughrea, and 11.00am Mass in St Michael’s Church in Ballinasloe. Masses in St Brendan’s Cathedral will take place at 10.am and 12 noon.
A number of parishes in the diocese will celebrate Dawn Masses on Easter Sunday. These are:
- Loughrea Parish at 6am on the shore of Loughrea Lake at the Long Point.
- Clontuskart Parish at 6am in the ruins of the Old Augustinian Monastery.
- Ballymacward Parish at 6.30am in Cloonkeenkerril Cemetery, Gurteen, Ballymacward.
- Ballinakill Parish – 6am at Ballinakill Millenium Park.
- Woodford Parish –5.45am at Woodford Bay.
For more information on Holy Week ceremonies in the Diocese, please visit www.clonfertdiocese.ie.
