Welcome for congress bell
Gaelscoil Inis Corthaidh pupils with prefects Pat Mcguire and John O'leary outside St Aidan's Cathedral with the Eucharistic Congress bell last Wednesday.
THE IMMINENCE of next summer's Eucharistic Congress in Dublin was underlined last week as the congress bell arrived in St Aidan's cathedral. The ceremonies in Enniscorthy were just one part of a pilgrimage that has been going on around Ireland for many months, preparing the way for the major international event in the capital over the week June 10 to 17.
The Ferns leg of the journey included visits to The Hook at the very south of the diocese and to Annacurragh near Aughrim on the northern fringe. Last Wednesday's ceremony in St Aidan's at the heart of Co. Wexford provided a highlight of the pilgrimage as the Catholic faithful from around the district were drawn to hear the bell.
Children from St Aidan's primary and Gaelscoil Inis Corthaidh were invited to a special ceremony conducted by Fr Richard Lawless in the morning. Then Fr Richard was joined by parish administrator Fr Denis Kelly for a service that attracted people from far and wide that evening.
'Anyone was welcome to ring the bell,' commented Fr Denis. It arrived set in a timber frame which made it easy to carry up the aisle before being placed in front of the altar.
The bell is intended to ring out the good news about the congress and call people to sacred worship. After its time in the cathedral, it was brought in its pilgrimage van across the Slaney to St Senan's church on Thursday before continuing on its way to Ferns, Gorey and on to Annacurragh.
- DAVID MEDCALF
