Weekly Record

This Sunday at the Solemn Mass Archbishop Kelly will be speaking in promotion of the cause of Edel Quinn. There will be representatives of the Legion of Mary joining us for this Mass and their hope is that she will be beatified and eventually declared a Saint along with Frank Duff who founded the Legion. Edel Quinn, despite bouts of ill health throughout her life, worked tirelessly promoting the Legion in Ireland and later was the Legion’s sole envoy for East and Central Africa. She died in Nairobi in 1944 at the age of 37. It was said of her, ‘that she was gifted with a clear practical mind, notable organising ability, an indomitable will, a deep fund of warm human sympathy and an infectious joyousness of spirit that never failed her. Also that she had an absolute faith in God’s love and a limitless trust in the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin.’ A worthy epitaph to a holy and devoted life.

Does stainless steel rust? The answer is yes and our maintenance men have learnt the truth the hard way. Within a year of the completion of the new rotunda the stainless steel cladding on the outside of the glass structure had badly discoloured with rust. Our 2 men have spent weeks polishing and oiling the panels to rid them of the reddy/brown stains and hopefully hold back any repetition of the rusting. Whenever I have mentioned this to surveyors or workmen the stock reply is ‘well there’s stainless steel and stainless steel’. What can you say after that!

On Tuesday the Chapter of Canons will creak their way up the processional ramp for 12.15 Mass in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. One of the few functions that remain for the Chapter is to pray within the Cathedral for the well being of the Archdiocese. This is something that we can all share in and you are most welcome to join us at the Chapter Mass.

Next weekend there is a Day of Recollection on Saturday for all who regularly exercise the Ministry of Reader in the Cathedral or Crypt. An opportunity for reflection on the importance and place of the Word of God in our lives and in our public celebrations of the Eucharist and other Liturgies.

The Hope Street Feast takes place next Sunday. It is a day when Hope Street is closed to traffic and there are stalls and events all along the Street from late morning until the evening. As a part of this there will be an Art Market on our Cathedral Piazza. You will need to plan your route carefully to the Cathedral next week if you normally drive along Hope Street. If it is good weather Sunday Mass at the Cathedral and a stroll along the Street sounds like my idea of an enjoyable Sunday!

Archbishop Kelly has reaffirmed his desire for all the parishes throughout the Diocese to continue with the restrictions on the reception of the chalice and sign of peace at public Masses and the availability of holy water in the stoups as we enter church. There are still strong concerns that the flu pandemic could quickly re-appear during the onset of Winter.

Canon Anthony O’Brien
Dean of the Cathedral