Bishop makes first pastoral visit to the town

BISHOP Kieran O’Reilly paid his first pastoral visit to Shannon last weekend.
On Friday morning, he began with the celebration of the Eucharist in the Convent Oratory. He also visited St Tóla’s in Tullyglass, St Conaire’s and St Senan’s.
Later on Friday, he met with the pastoral council and representatives of parish organisations.
On Saturday, the bishop celebrated the Vigil Mass in Ss John and Paul Church, at which the Shannon Gospel Choir sang. He also met with parishioners and later in the evening, he met with priests serving in the Tradaree cluster, which takes in Newmarket-on-Fergus, Sixmilebridge and Shannon.
He also began work on Sunday morning by celebrating the 9am mass in Mary Immaculate Church. He then went to SS John and Paul Church to celebrate the 10am mass, while he also met parents and pupils of St Conaire’s, who are preparing for Confirmation. The bishop presided at their enrolment ceremony, at which music was provided by the folk choir.
On Sunday, Bishop Kieran made a quick courtesy call to the congregation at Christ Church at the start of their Sunday service. He later returned to Mary Immaculate Church for the 11am mass, before going back to SS John and Paul church, where he preached and met more parishioners at the last mass of the day. The Sisters of Mercy hosted lunch for Bishop Kieran and the priests of the parish, while in the afternoon, he visited some parishioners in their homes.
Monday was the last day of the pastoral visit and Bishop Kieran began it with a visit to Gaelscoil Donncha Rua. He also celebrated mass at the Adoration Chapel in SkyCourt. Later in the day he went to visit the town’s two secondary schools and St Aidan’s National School. The bishop also met with people involved in the parish ministry and visited Illaunmanagh Cemetery. His final engagement was to celebrate Shannon’s Annual Mass of Remembrance for all who died in the parish in the last year.
Parish priest Father Tom Ryan said the community had been very pleased the bishop had visited.
“He gave us four days of his time and he connected with around 3,500 t0 4,000 people. He was working everyday from 8am in the morning to 10pm at night and people were delighted he came. He also spent time with all of the priests individually, he got to know us better and we got to know him better,” Fr Ryan said.