Chai Brady
Pope Francis shares a laugh with a newly married couple. Pope in Ireland
Pope Francis has often spoken about the importance of love and marriage before and during his papacy, which makes it very apt he will meet couples from every diocese in Ireland in the pro-cathedral during his visit.
On August 25 Francis will join with married and engaged couples in St Mary’s Pro Cathedral in the archdiocese of Dublin at 3.30 pm, after meeting with authorities, civil society, and the diplomatic corps in Dublin Castle.
Several of the lucky couples told The Irish Catholic that they are very excited to be sent to represent each of their dioceses. WMOF organisers allocated a certain number of couples that could be put forward by a diocese depending on their size, according to sources. While the Archdiocese of Armagh will be sending 16 couples, the Diocese of Achonry has been allocated two couples.
Those participating at the event will receive a specially packaged copy of the Family Prayer Book produced by the Council for Marriage and the Family of the Irish Episcopal.
Speaking about the gift, Fr Peter Murphy, Secretary of the Council for Marriage and the Family, said: “The Family Prayer Book invites readers to bring their hopes and concerns and the needs of families to God. It offers prayers for daily use or it can be dipped into from time to time, using the section and prayer titles as a guide towards choices.”
The selection process varied throughout the different diocese, with many using a raffle system to choose people who expressed interest in attending.
There are certain rules regarding attendance as a couple.
They must have celebrated their marriage after August 1, 2017, or will celebrate their wedding before December 31, 2018.
There is a preference that couples chosen from a diocese are currently resident in that diocese and they must be available to attend the meeting with Pope Francis.
Francis will be there for 45 minutes before being transferred to the Capuchin Day Centre, a charity that provides services for homeless people, for a private visit at 4.30pm.
Cloyne: Lisa and Ciarán McDonald
Lisa McDonald and her husband Ciarán’s diocese helped the couple’s wedding anniversary celebrations by giving them a chance to see Pope Francis.
Lisa and Ciarán met while they were both in medical school. After dating for around eight years, they were married on June 30, 2017, in the church where she went to Mass during holiday as a little girl. They have been chosen to represent the Cloyne Diocese for the WMOF meeting with the Pope. “We are beginning our own family so meeting the Pope would be a huge honour,” Lisa said.
She added that the Pope’s interest in young people and families is something inspiring and admirable. With Lisa and Ciarán both being doctors, life gets extremely busy with their schedules, yet they find a way to make it to Mass every week, even if it doesn’t happen to be on a Sunday.
Cork and Ross: Audrey Lettice and Peter Spillett
Audrey Lettice and Peter Spillett said it was wonderful to receive the news that they have the opportunity see the Pope in the Pro Cathedral.
Having met in secondary school, they have been an item for 12 years before getting married in July. Both hail from Co. Cork, Audrey from Blackpool in Cork City and Peter from Blarney. Audrey is from the dioceses of Cork and Ross, while Peter is from the Dioceses of Cloyne. Audrey spoke of her and her husband’s excitement about meeting the Pope: “It is especially significant to us as we prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage next year…in 1979 my father was part of the team that built the popemobile here in Cork. He received a Papal Medal which he still has today. He is very proud that he was involved in that visit and now I am involved in this visit in a different way.”
Of their Faith, Audrey says: “We really enjoy being a part of parish life and it is a big part of our lives together.”
Killaloe: Audrey and Gavin Kissane
Hailing from Shannon in Co. Clare, Audrey Kissane said she thinks Pope Francis is “a great humanitarian”.
“I saw a video of him consoling a distressed young boy, who was worried about his atheist father, who had recently died, getting into heaven.
“The Pope’s response made me cry. It was so, so lovely,” said Audrey.
Especially since having children, Audrey and her husband Gavin are curious about God. She said: “I feel connected to God in a way that feels right to me.”
The couple met in Shannon over the May bank holiday weekend in 2009 at a birthday party.
Ferns: Keith and Elaine Wallace
Married this year on June 8, Keith and Elaine were “delighted” that they had been chosen to see Pope Francis.
Keith said they are “very excited”, and that their friends and family are in disbelief. Both originally from South Dublin and now living in Riverchapel, Keith believes that Pope Francis’ visit can “only be a good thing”.
“I think only good can come from it, because people are going to see and experience something in their lifetime and I think it will inspire a generation to start thinking about religion again, because I think we’ve lost a generation or two.”
With their two children aged three and five, the couple intend to teach their children more thoroughly about the Faith. “We’d be more casual churchgoers, but with the kids now we’d be trying to lead them a little bit more, just to get them thinking. They can make their own decisions later on, but it’s just to get them thinking.”
Dublin: Cathal Barry and Christina Foley
Turning to Faith shouldn’t just be done in times of hardship, but at positive times such as marriage, according to one soon to be married Dublin man.
Cathal Barry, former journalist at The Irish Catholic, will get married exactly one week after himself and his fiancée Christina see the Pope in the Pro Cathedral.
After seeing Francis in the Vatican several years ago, Cathal said he is “delighted” to see him a second time, saying “there’s more of a sense of occasion to it because it’s in my home country”.
Speaking about the importance of Faith for the couple, Cathal said: “Faith has played a big roles in our lives and in our families growing up, so that stayed with us and I think having a Catholic ceremony, getting married in a church was something really important – not just for our families – but also for us personally.
“We were very positively impacted by the Church. Sometimes you can take Faith for granted in a way, and I think a lot of people turn to Faith maybe in times of need. I think it’s really important to turn to Faith in positive times and at times of celebration – such as getting married.”
The couple lived on the same street growing up, but only met later in life when Christina was working in a pharmacy. Cathal arrived with a sore throat, she sold him a box of strepsils and the rest is history.
Limerick: Michael and Jane Guinane
Young couple Michael and Jane are “beyond excited” to have been chosen to represent the Limerick Diocese. Michael recalls receiving the email confirming that they were chosen, describing himself as “over the moon”.
“I don’t really know what to expect, but I’m very excited for it,” said Michael. Jane and Michael met during a night out and were married on September 2, 2017. According to Michael, his Faith has long been important to him and that meeting the Pope in Ireland is the opportunity of a lifetime.
“My family is very excited for us,” he added.
Waterford and Lismore: Aisling and Pádraig Larkin
Excitement is building in the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore following news that Aisling and Pádraig Larkin will see Pope Francis on August 25. The couple, who were married on June 22, 2018, said they were really looking forward to it, and that Faith is an important part of their life. “I’m a sixth-class teacher in the school, so I teach Confirmation, and Pádraig has been a second-class teacher for the last couple of years, so he teaches about Communion. The Sacraments play a big role in our live. We’re both Massgoers and our families have a really deep Faith as well,” Aisling says.
If she gets to meet the Pope face-to-face, Aisling says she would ask him to pray for her family and world peace. “I think it’s brilliant, it’s great for our country,” she says, adding that it will hopefully be a change from all the negativity that has been in the media and the press in the last months and years.