World Day of Prayer marked at cathedral

Several senior members of the Irish Catholic Church joined retired Bishop of Meath, Most Rev Dr Michael Smith, in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, last week to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his consecration as Bishop, and for evening prayer to mark World Day of Prayer for all in consecrated life.

The Papal Nuncio Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor, the current Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell, a former curate in the Mullingar parish, and former Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin along with Bishop of Armagh and Clonmacnois Paul Connell, former president of St Finian’s College, Mullingar, were in attendance.

The Bishop of Meath, Most Rev Dr Tom Deenihan, presided at the Solemn Vespers. He welcomed newly-ordained deacon, Rev Anthony Kerr, on his first "appearance" in the Cathedral and prayed for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Master of ceremonies was Rev Barry White, CC, Mullingar. The homily was preached by Fr John Harris, OP, Prior Provincial of the Irish Province of the Dominicans, who referred to the example and teaching of St Thomas Aquinas – the 750th anniversary of whose death is being marked in 2024.

The Cathedral choir, directed by Will Woods, was joined by members of the Meath Diocesan choir in the congregation, and many priests and religious from around the diocese of Meath.