Holy Cross Abbey in Co. Tipperary
The Relics of the Cross, stolen from Holy Cross Abbey in Co. Tipperary last October, were this week returned to the abbey undamaged following a successful Garda recovery operation.
Holy Cross PP Fr Tom Breen said that parishioners and pilgrims are ‘overjoyed’ by the news.
‘It is wonderful that the relics have been recovered and have not been seriously damaged.
‘The finding of the relics is a true answer to the enormous prayerful response to their theft,’ he said.
Archbishop Dermot Clifford described the news as ‘truly wonderful’.
‘This is a joyous day and one for which thousands of people had been praying for since the relics were stolen.
‘The thousands of people who annually travel to Holy Cross to pray and show their devotion to the Lord Jesus will be very happy and thankful that the relics are to be returned to their proper home,’ the archbishop said.