An Irish Olympic hero helped a County Wicklow Church kick off its 150th anniversary celebrations this week.
Arklow native Ronnie Delaney, who famously won gold in the 1,500m in
the 1956 Melbourne Olympics formally launched the 150th anniversary
celebrations of the dedication of Saints Mary and Peter’s church in the
town.
The theme of the 150th anniversary celebrations in the town is putting out into the deep, taken from St. Luke’s Gospel (Lk 5:1-11) which, according to the local pastoral council, was chosen for a specific purpose.
They say that those words challenged Peter to step beyond the
comfortable level of human wisdom and understanding into the realm of
extraordinary faith and risk and uncertainty and that that very
challenge is still very relevant today.
The church was first dedicated on August 18 1861 and a sub-group of
the local parish council has put together a number of events to mark the
celebrations.
These will include a special mass to celebrate Saint Brigid's Day on
February 12, which has been organised by the Arklow Girl Guides, as well
as a major festival of faith in the town that will run from March 19 to
March 26.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will celebrate a special liturgy mass in
the church in May, while a book chronicling the church’s history will be
launched in June as well as a major photo exhibition in the church.
Other events include special masses for returning emigrants, a
special mass for seafarers from the town that will be combined with a
major church concert planned for November.
The celebrations in Arklow can be followed on www.arklowparishcouncil.homestead.com.
SIC: CIN/IE