Local plans are under way for the visit of the Holy Family Icon to the diocese.
People are welcome to visit the churches hosting the Icon during these days to see and pray before the Icon which was recently blessed by Pope Francis. The diocesan petition box will accompany the icon and any prayer petitions written will be brought to Dublin to be prayed for at the World Meeting of Families.
Bishop Denis will be present at the opening and closing liturgies in each of the three hosting churches.
Alongside the regular schedule of Masses, the prayer opportunities over the days include:
Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow
Friday 27th April, 7pm – Taizé Prayer Service of Welcome for the Icon with reflections and a blessing for families and formal opening of the icon
Monday 30th April, 12 Noon – Schools Liturgy & Closing of the Icon Primary and post primary students from the surrounding parishes will bring their prayer petitions back to the Cathedral for a prayer service before the Icon
S.S. Peter & Paul Church, Portlaoise
Monday 30th April, 7:30 pm – Mass of Welcome for the Icon with a blessing for families and formal opening of the icon
Wednesday 2nd May, 12 noon – Schools Liturgy & entrusting of petitions as above
Thursday 3rd May, 10 am – Mass & praying of WMOF official prayer, formal closing of the Icon
During the Day – The Icon will visit The Midlands Prison Visit
St Conleth’s Church, Newbridge
Thursday 3rd May,7:30 pm – Taizé Prayer Service of Welcome for the Icon with reflections and a blessing for families and formal opening of the icon
Friday 4th May, 12 noon – Schools Liturgy As above
Evening Mass for the Feast of St Conleth, 7:30 pm Blessing for families at Masses & praying of WMOF official prayer;
Extended opening for quiet prayer until 10 pm
Monday 7th May, 11am – Mass and formal closing of Icon & entrusting of prayer petitions to the WMOF
Please confirm local times and prayer opportunities closer to the event on the particular parish and diocesan website
You may be interested in this brief piece explaining the Icon of the Holy Family Icon which was distributed to parishes last Decemeber as part of the Reach Out 2017 campaign.