'Mother of Perpetual Help Pilgrimage' begins in Limerick on Monday 4th April

The pilgrimage of the Mother of Perpetual Help Icon, to all 26 Roman Catholic Cathedrals, will commence in Limerick on Monday the 4th of April. The Pilgrim Icon was blessed by Pope Francis in Rome on the 23rd of March and taken back to Ireland by the Irish Redemptorists the following day.

This pilgrimage is being organised by the Redemptorists in conjunction with all 26 Cathedrals and will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the devotion to our Mother of Perpetual Help and its custodianship by the Redemptorists during this time. (Full pilgrimage details on www.followtheicon.ie )

At 6pm on Monday the 4th April the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles J. Brown will lead a procession with the Pilgrim Icon from Mount St Alphonsus Church to St John’s Cathedral in Limerick, where he will then celebrate Mass at 8.30pm. This will be followed by a healing service for the people of Limerick and the surrounding area at 1030pm. At midnight an all night vigil will commence, to include the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

On Tuesday the 5th after a prayer service for primary schools at 11am at the Cathedral, the pilgrim icon moves to the Cathedral of the Assumption in Thurles.

Similar ceremonies will be held all around the country from 4th April to Sunday 15th May and full details are on: www.followtheicon.ie

Fr Seamus Enright, Rector Mount St Aphonsus Limerick and Pilgrimage Chairman said today, ‘Since the Pilgrim Icon of the ‘Mother of Perpetual Help’ was blessed by Pope Francis and brought here to Limerick on Holy Thursday, we have had a most remarkable reaction from local people. We are of course well aware of the devotion to ‘Our Mother of Perpetual Help’ not just in Limerick but all around the world - and this national pilgrimage affords many people the opportunity to continue with this devotion in a more structured way. Our Redemptorist novenas tell us year after year that many people in Ireland still value an opportunity to meet and pray together in a community setting”

Additional Programme for the first week of the Pilgrimage is attached below:

THURLES, Cathedral of the Assumption
Tuesday 5th April
7.30 p.m.       Pilgrimage Mass of Welcome
9.30 p.m.       Healing Service
11.00 p.m.      Prayer around the Icon
Wednesday 6th April 2016
7.30 a.m.       Morning Mass
9.45 a.m.       Prayer Service for Primary Schools
11.00 a.m.      Mass, celebrated by Archbishop O’Reilly

KILLARNEY, St Mary’s Cathedral
Wednesday 6th April 2016
6.15 p.m.       Mass of Welcome, celebrated by Bishop Ray Brown
7.00 p.m. – 8.00 p.m.   Veneration of Icon with Petition writing
8.00 p.m.       Healing Service
9.30 p.m.       Prayer around the Icon
Thursday 7th April 2016
7.00 a.m.       Mass
9.15 a.m.       Prayer Service for Secondary school children
10.30 a.m.      Mass
11.15 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. - Sacrament of Reconciliation

COBH, St Colman’s Cathedral
Thursday 7th April 2016
7.00 p.m.       Arrival of Icon at Cathedral, procession to Our Lady’s Chapel
7.30 p.m.       Mass celebrated by Bishop Crean followed by benediction and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The cathedral will remain open overnight for Adoration. Confessions will be available until midnight
Friday 8th April 2016
8.00 a.m.       Mass
10.00 a.m.      Mass
11.00 a.m.      Icon is transferred to Norwood church
12.00 p.m.      Norwood Church: Prayer Service with primary school children

CORK, Saint’s Mary & Ann Cathedral
Friday 8th April 2016
7.30 p.m.       Mass of Welcome
9.00 p.m.       Healing Service
Saturday 9th April 2016
10.00 a.m. Mass