Plans are under way in the diocese of Meath to honour the silver jubilee of the appointment of Bishop Michael Smith. A special Mass will be celebrated in Mullingar Cathedral next Sunday (February 1) to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of Dr Smith becoming auxiliary bishop of the diocese and the following weekend, Navan parish will host a similar celebration in St Mary's Church.
Monsignor Eamonn Marron, who is Vicar General of the Meath diocese and is chairing a committee organising the jubilee events, said the silver jubilee was “a very special occasion” which gave the diocese the opportunity to thank Bishop Smith for his ministry over the past quarter of a century and pray for God's blessing on his work.
“This gathering will bring together people from various parishes, schools and services, all of which have been touched by our bishop's ministry," said Mgr Marron.
Bishop Smith, who grew up in Oldcastle, Co. Meath, studied for the priesthood at the Irish College in Rome and was ordained in 1963.
He served in Clonmellon, St Loman's Hospital and as secretary to his predecessor, Bishop John McCormack.
He also worked for the Irish Bishops’ Conference and had a central role in organising Pope John Paul's visit to Ireland in 1979.
He became a bishop in 1984 when he was only 43, making him one of the youngest members of the Irish Hierarchy.
**Pity Bishop Smith has not seen to it that the child safety awareness programme that is implemented in every other diocese in Ireland is not implemented in his own. Not exactly a reason to be celebratory of now is it Bishop considering the scandal down Cloyne way??**
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(Source: CIN)