New Irish language missal welcomed
Galway’s Bishop Martin Drennan has welcomed the announcement that an altar edition of the new Roman Missal in the Irish language will be published by Veritas later this year. Dr Drennan, who chairs the bishops’ Council for Liturgy said, “The publication of An Leabhar Aifrinn Rómhánach is hugely significant not only for the Church in Ireland, but for all who cherish our culture and heritage, particularly the Irish language.”
The missal, he said, “will serve those who celebrate the liturgy in Irish and will help to preserve the Irish language as a living language for worship”.
Diocesan teams to prepare for WMF2018
The Irish Bishops’ Conference has called for each diocese to establish a team of people to assist with local planning for the World Meeting of Families which will take place primarily in Dublin, but also throughout Ireland, in 2018.
Held every three years, and coordinated by the Pontifical Council for the Family, the World Meeting of Families is the largest gathering of Catholic families and it celebrates family life and the Church’s commitment to support families.
Hollywood star to receive Diaspora Award
Derry-born actress Roma Downey is set to receive the inaugural Irish Diaspora Award at the Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTA) in Dublin next month.
Known for her role as Monica in CBS’s Touched By An Angel, and for her producing skills on the epic drama series The Bible, Son of God, she is being recognised for her 30-year career, as well as her charity and humanitarian work.
“I am so grateful to IFTA and the Irish Government for honouring me with the inaugural Irish Diaspora Award,” she said. “While I’m blessed to have had a successful career in the US, that success has been built on all that I learned growing up in Derry: Integrity, character, tenacity, the value of working hard and not take myself too seriously!”
Poet’s posthumous tribute to priest
Seamus Heaney’s translation of part of the most famous ancient Roman poem has been dedicated to the memory of his Latin schoolteacher Fr Michael McGlinchey, who taught him in Derry’s St Columb’s College in the 1950s. In introducing the posthumously published Aeneid: Book VI, Mr Heaney said his translation of Virgil’s account of the Trojan hero Aeneas’ visit to the underworld, was “the result of a lifelong desire to honour the memory” of Fr McGlinchey.
Mr Heaney died in 2013, aged 74.