County Mayor Cllr Declan Hurley stands at the petition box with Msgr Leonard O’Brien and Fr Charlie Kiely pictured behind him. 
Sr Karen Kent
WMOF
Bishop Buckley led the people of Cork & Ross in prayer to welcome the icon when it arrived to our diocese in the Cathedral of Ss Mary and Anne.
For this specially prepared liturgy Cllr John Sheehan, representing the Lord Mayor of Cork, and his wife were present along with the Papal Knights and Dames of the Diocese, religious, parishioners from the many parishes in the city and surrounding area and representatives from the myriad of groups, organisations and charities who support family life in the city.
The theme of the visit of the icon to our Diocese was: all are welcome in God’s family. Bishop Buckley was joined in the opening procession by the Hosford family from Farranree parish and the Feeney family from Knocknaheeny parish bringing forward the WMOF candle and the petition box.
Young adults of the diocese introduced the icon and the images portrayed as the bishop opened the doors incensed and venerated the icon.
Texts
Members of pastoral groups from local parishes led the congregation in prayer for families based on the three Gospel texts of the icon.
Bishop Buckley in his homily spoke of the family as the bedrock of society and that every family needs to be a school of prayer, a domestic church. Prayer in the home has been a long held tradition in Irish families and he went on to invite families to reinvigorate this essential element of life in every home.
Celebrating and praying for vocations in families was the theme of the holy hour the following afternoon, led by Fr Charles Kiely, which drew a large gathering of laity and religious. Taking the theme ‘Who will you be Eli for?’, it focused on the call of Samuel and the Lord’s need of Eli to assist Samuel in responding to his call from God.
In a time when it can appear that no one is interested in religious life or priesthood, Fr Charlie spoke of it being all the more necessary to continue to pray for, celebrate, and promote vocations, and not to be afraid to propose this way of life to young adults today.
He reminded the gathering of the words of Pope Francis: “Behind every vocation is the prayer of a mother, a father, grandparents, and a parish community” and we all need to be part of this work for the Church.
To close the holy hour Bishop Buckley spoke of the constant need for prayer and Eucharistic Adoration in our parishes in this prayer for vocations in our Church.
The next day, Sunday, drew another gathering of people for an Ecumenical Service led by the Ecumenical Standing committee in Cork – from the Church of Ireland, Methodist and Roman Catholic communities.
On Monday the icon continued its pilgrimage in the diocese when it was moved to St Patrick’s Cathedral in Skibbereen.
On this evening Msgr Leonard O’Brien led the liturgy of welcome and the Bush family from Rath & The Islands parish and the Duggan family from Clonakilty parish brought forward the WMOF candle and petition box.
On this occasion Cllr Declan Hurley, the Mayor of County Cork, joined the celebration and spoke of his own faith and involvement in parish life in Dunmanway along with his hopes for the forthcoming papal visit to Ireland.
Unfortunately Storm Emma brought an abrupt conclusion to the pilgrimage and the icon was not able to complete its onward journey to St Patrick’s parish in Bandon where it had been eagerly awaited.
At each venue members of the Diocesan Commission preparing for the World Meeting of Families were present to meet those who gathered and share with them information about the international gathering this August, encouraging people to register to attend and to consider volunteering.
Since May of last year across the diocese people have been preparing for the pilgrimage of the icon as they participated in a three-session series: encountering family in the Gospel exploring family life in the Gospels and the reflections of Pope Francis in Amoris Laetitia. These sessions are continuing over the coming months as preparations are ongoing for groups in parishes planning to attend the World Meeting of Families.
Alongside this all parishes have been participating in a year-long diocesan preparation programme with one family focused event each month connected to the Sunday liturgy.
All preparations have been led by the Diocesan Pastoral Planning and Development Office and Bishop John Buckley thanked Fr Charles Kiely and Sr Karen Kent for their creative and inspiring liturgies and resources for this year.
Sr Karen Kent OSU is the Coordinator of Pastoral Development in the Diocese of Cork & Ross.
