CATHOLIC COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

(INCORPORATING THE CATHOLIC PRESS & INFORMATION OFFICE)


Diocesan Ceremonies for Christmas 2001




Diocese of Achonry

Christmas Eve Mass at 10pm in Cathedral of Annunciation & St. Nathy, Ballaghaderreen will be Concelebrated. Bishop Flynn will be Chief Concelebrant and Preacher. Music will be provided by the Cathedral Choir. Christmas Day Masses will be at 8am, 10am and 12noon in The Cathedral. Bishop Flynn will be Chief-Celebrant of the 12noon Mass with music provided by the Cathedral Folk Group.

Website: www.achonrydiocese.org

Ardagh and Clonmacnois

Website: www.ardaghdiocese.org

Archdiocese of Armagh

Christmas Eve - Monday 24 December 2001 Midnight Mass 12.00pm in St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh. Archbishop Sean Brady will be Chief Celebrant & Homilist Christmas Day - Tuesday 25 December 2001 11.00 am Mass in St Patrick's Dundalk. Archbishop Sean Brady will be Chief Celebrant & Homilist. New Year's Day 1st January 2002 11.00 am Mass in St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh for World Peace Day. Archbishop Sean Brady will be Chief Celebrant & Homilist.

Website: www.armagharchdiocese.org

Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly

Website: www.cashel-emly.com

Clogher

Diocese of Clonfert

Bishop John Kirby will celebrate Mass at the following venues over the Christmas season: Sunday 23 December 2001 - St Brendan's Hospital, Loughrea. Christmas Eve Midnight Mass - St Brendan's Cathedral, Loughrea. Christmas Day Dawn Mass - Carmelite Abbey, Loughrea. Christmas Day Mass - St Michael's Church, Ballinasloe.

Website: http://homepage.eircom.net/~clonfert

Diocese of Cloyne

Tuesday 18 December 2001 - Parish Carol Service in St Colman's Cathedral, Cobh. Friday 21 December 2001 - Parish Penintential Service in St Colman's Cathedral. Christmas Eve - Monday 24 December 2001 St Colman's Cathedral: 6.00pm Vigil Mass - Homilist Bishop John Magee. 12.00pm Midnight Mass - Main celebrant Bishop John Magee. Christmas Day - Tuesday 25th December 2001 Masses in St Colman's Cathedral, Cobh at 8.00am, 10.00am and 12.00 noon. Bishop John Magee will be Celebrant at the 10.00am Mass. Sunday 30th December 2001 - Feast of the Holy Family Blessing of all babies baptised during the year will take place in St Colman's Cathedral at 4.00pm. Tuesday 1st January 2001 - Masses at 11.00am in all churches.

Bishop John Magee's Message for Christmas 2001 Click here

Website: www.cloyne.irl.com

Diocese of Cork and Ross

Christmas Eve - Monday 24 December 2001 Bishop John Buckley will celebrate Mass at St. Francis Church, Liberty Street, Cork at 9.00pm. Christmas Day - Tuesday 25 December 2001 Bishop Buckley will say Mass at Cork Prison on Christmas morning. He will be at St. Vincent de Paul Hostel on Christmas Day, where lunch will be served to the poor of Cork City.

Website: http://ireland.iol.ie/~thefold/dioc.html

Derry

Down and Connor

Most Rev Patrick Walsh, Bishop of Down and Connor Bishop Walsh will say Midnight Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Belfast on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day he will say Mass in St Oliver Plunkett, Belfast and Corpis Christi, Belfast. Most Rev Anthony Farquhar, Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor Bishop Farquhar will say Mass on Christmas Eve in St Mary's on the Hill, Glengormley. On Christmas Day he will say Mass in St Patrick's, Belfast, followed by a visit to the Mater Hospital and finally Mass in the Holy Rosary Church in Belfast. Most Rev Donal Mc Keown, Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor On Christmas Eve Bishop Mc Keown will say Mass in Irish in St Patrick's, Derriaghy. On Christmas Day Bishop Mc Keown will Mass in St Patrick's. Aghagallon at 9.00am and in Derriaghy (time to be confirmed).

Website: www.downandconnor.org

Dromore

Website: www.newrycathedral.org

Archdiocese of Dublin

Christmas Masses and Services at the Pro-Cathedral, Dublin Sunday 23 December 2001 - 3.30pm Carol Service The Palestrina Choir, Brass Ensemble Organist - Professor Gillen Director of the Palestrina Choir: Orla Barry Christmas Eve - Monday 24 December 2001 9.00pm Christmas Carols sung by the Palestrina Choir. 10.00pm Mass of Christmas Night - Principal Celebrant: Cardinal Desmond Connell. The Lord Mayor and members of Dublin City Council in attendance. Christmas Day - Tuesday 25 December 2001 11.00am Mass - Principal Celebrant: Cardinal Desmond Connell with the Priests of the Pro-Cathedral. Music: Missa Santi Nicolai by Haydn, sung by the Palestrina Choir. New Year's Day - 1 January 2002 Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - Annual Mass for Peace 11.00am St Brigid's Church, Killester, Dublin 5. Principal Celebrant: Cardinal Desmond Connell Homilist: Fr Sam Klein CM. Civic and State Representatives and members of the Diplomatic Corps will be in attendance.

Website: www.dublindiocese.ie

Elphin

Website: www.elphinpdo.org

Diocese of Ferns

Monday 17 December 2001 The Children of the Primary Schools of Wexford and Clonard will come together in Bride Street Church, Wexford at 7.30pm to tell the Story of Christmas in word and song. Christmas Eve - Monday 24 December 2001 Bishop Brendan Comiskey will celebrate Mass for Christmas Eve in St Aidan's Cathedral, Enniscorthy at 9.00pm. Christmas Day - Tuesday 25 December 2001 At 10.00am on Christmas Day, Bishop Comiskey will celebrate Mass at St. Senan's Hospital, Enniscorthy. The Children's Mass for Christmas Day will take place at 10.30am in Bride Street Church and at 11.15am in Rowe Street Church, Wexford. Sunday 30 December 2001 Bishop Brendan Comiskey will celebrate the World Day of Peace Mass at 11.15am at Rowe Street Church, wexford.

Website: www.ferns.ie

Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora

Christmas Liturgies in Galway Cathedral Sunday 16 December 2001 - Diocesan Carol Service by candlelight at 8.00pm. Wednesday 19 December 2001 - "Messiah" presented by Galway Choral Association at 8.00pm. Music by N.U.I.G Orchestra. Sunday 23 December 2001 - Christmas Pageant "The Story of Christmas" presented by the Cathedral Youth Group. Christmas Eve - Monday 24 December 2001 Christmas Night Mass at 10.00pm celebrated by Bishop James Mc Loughlin. Christmas Day - Tuesday 25 December 2001 Masses at 8.00am, 8.30am, 9.00am, 10.00am, 11.00am and 12 noon (concelebrated). St. Stephen's Day - Wednesday 26 December 2001 Masses at 9.00am, 11.00am and 6.00pm. Sunday 30 December 2001 - Feast of the Holy Family Masses at 8.00am, 9.00am, 10.00am, 11.00am, 12 noon and 6.00pm. Tuesday 1st January 2001 - News Year's Day Peace Mass at 11.00am celebrated by Bishop James Mc Loughlin.

Diocese of Kerry

Thursday 20 December 2001 - Carol Service St. Joseph's Secondary School, Ballybunion will hold a Carol Service in St. John's Church, Ballybunion at 7.30pm, which will be recorded by Radio Kerry and broadcast during Christmas week. Sunday 23 December 2001 At 7.30pm in St. John's Church, Tralee, "The Christmas Story" in Mime and Song will be performed by the pupils of the Presentation Secondary School, and St.John's Parish Choir directed by Monsignor Pat Ahern. Christmas Eve - Monday 24 December 2001 Bishop William Murphy will celebrate Midnight Mass in St. Mary's Cathedral, Killarney. Bishop Murphy will preach the homily and bless the crib. Fr Pat Crean-Lynch C.C. will celebrate the Vigil Mass at 8.00pm in St. Mary's Church, Listowel. The Mass will be broadcast live on Radio Kerry (97FM).

Bishop Bill Murphy's Christmas Message 2001

Bishop Bill Murphy's Advent Pastoral 2001

Website: www.dioceseofkerry.ie

Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin

Sunday 16 December 2001 - Annual Diocesan Carol Service This years Diocesan Carol Service will be held in the Church of the Assumption and St. Patrick, Rathangan, Co Kildare at 8.00pm and will feature the Kildare and Leighlin Diocesan Choir directed and conducted by Fr Liam Lawton. Wednesday 19 December 2001 - Carol Service A Carol Service will be held in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow at 8.00pm featuring the Cathedral Choir, Carlow Parish Folk Group, Cor Miosa, Carlow Young Artists Choir, Scoil Muire Gan Smal Choir and St. Leo's College Folk Group. The programme will be directed by Marion Gaynor. Christmas Eve - Monday 24 December 2001 A Carol Service will be held in Duiske Abbey, Graiguenamanagh at 8.30pm.

Website: www.dioceseofkildareandleighlin.ie

Diocese of Killala

St. Muredach's Cathedral, Ballina. Friday 21 December 2001 - Parish Penitential Service 8.00pm Saturday 22 December 2001 - Confessions: 11.30am - 7.00pm Christmas Eve Monday 24 December 2001 - Confessions: 11.30am - 7.00pm Vigil Mass 8.00pm. Bishop Thomas Finnegan will preside and preach. Christmas Night Mass 10.30p.m. Bishop Thomas Finnegan will be principal celebrant and homilist. Christmas Day Tuesday 25 December 2001 Masses will be at 8.00am; 9.30am; 10.00am; 11.00am; and 12.30pm. Bishop Finnegan will be principal celebrant and homilist at the 11.00am Mass. (The Special Childrens Mass for Christmas Day will be celebrated at 10.00am in St. Patrick's Church, Ballina.) New Year's Day - 1 January 2002. Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God World Day of Peace Mass in Cathedral at 10.00a.m. Bishop Thomas Finnegan will be principal celebrant and homilist.

Diocese of Killaloe

Diocese of Kilmore

Sunday 23 December 2001 A Carol service will be held at 5.00pm in St. Clare's Chapel, Cavan. Christmas Eve - Monday 24 December 2001 Bishop Leo O'Reilly will celebrate Mass in the Cathedral of St Patrick and St Felim, Cavan at 10.00pm.

Christmas Message from Bishop Leo O'Reilly and Bishop Kenneth Clarke

Website: www.iol.ie/~galwill/kilmore

Diocese of Limerick

Sunday 23 December 2001 Bishop Donal Murray will celebrate Mass in Limerick Prison at 8.30am and 10.30am. Christmas Eve - Monday 24 December 2001 Christmas Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Donal Murray in St. John's Cathedral at 7.00pm. Christmas Day - 25 December 2001 Bishop Donal Murray will celebrate Mass in St John's Hospital at 10.00am. Mass for Christmas Day will be celebrated in St John's Cathedral at 8.00am, 10.00am, 11.00am and 12.15pm.

Bishop Donal Murray's Christmas Reflection 'Vulnerable With Us'

Joint Christmas Message from Bishop Donal Murray and Bishop Michael Mayes Click here

Website: www.limerickdiocese.org

Diocese of Meath

Christmas Eve - Monday 24 December 2001 Bishop Michael Smith will be Chief Celebrant at Mass in the Cathedral, Mullingar, at 10.00pm. Christmas Day - Tuesday 25 December 2001 Bishop Smith will be Chief Celebrant at Mass in Saint Mary's Church, Navan, at 10.30am New Year's Day - Tuesday 1st January 2002 World Day of Prayer for Peace: Bishop Smith will be Chief Celebrant at Mass in the Cathedral, Mullingar, at 12 noon.

Website: http://homepage.eircom.net/~meathdiocese

Diocese of Ossory

Christmas Eve - Monday 24 December 2001 Bishop Laurence Forristal will celebrate Midnight Mass at 12.00pm in St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny. Christmas Day - Tuesday 25 December 2001 Bishop Forristal will celebrate Mass on Christmas morning at 10.30am in the parish of Gowran. This Mass will be broadcast on local radio. Tuesday 1st January 2001 - World Day of Prayer for Peace A Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Forristal in St. Patrick's Parish, Kilkenny at 10.30am to mark the World Day of Prayer for Peace.

Website: www.ossory.ie

Diocese of Raphoe

Christmas Eve - Monday 24 December 2001 Bishop Philip Boyce will celebrate Midnight Mass at 12.00pm in the Cathedral of St Eunan and St Columba, Letterkenny.

Website: http://homepage.eircom.net/~raphoe

Archdiocese of Tuam

Archbishop Michael Neary will celebrate and preach at the following Masses in Tuam Cathedral over Christmas: 10.00pm Mass on Christmas Eve 8.30am Mass on Christmas Day He will also preside and preach at the following Masses: 7.30pm on Christmas Eve 10.00am, 11.15am and 12.30pm on Christmas Day.

Website: www.towardsthegoal.com

Diocese of Waterford and Lismore

Sunday 23 December 2001 - Civic Carol Service There will be a Civic Carol Service in Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford at 4.00 pm Christmas Eve - Monday 24 December 2001 Bishop William Lee will be officiating at the Mass of the Nativity of Our Lord in the Cathedral, Waterford at 9.00 p.m.

Bishop William Lee's Message for Christmas 2001 Click here

Website: www.waterfordandlismore.com

The Catholic Communications Office is an Agency of the Irish Bishops' Conference
Email us at bishops@eircom.net