reminder: Blog Help Wanted

Reminder:

One of the authors of this blog intends to retire from blogging by Easter. If you have time to help out with this blog, and see it continue, please leave a comment, or email markadm at catholic dot org.

Without such help, this blog cannot continue. Blog posts have been prepared until Advent 2010, but no further posts have been made.

All comments are moderated, hence private comments can be left which will remain unpublished.

Majestic Irish Cathedral Destroyed by Fire

Christmas 2009
The north-central Irish Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise has suffered the tragic loss of its 150-year old cathedral yesterday morning in what may have been an act of arson. Just a few hours after the bishop celebrated Midnight Mass, the fire broke out. By the time it was extinguished the beautiful interior was completely gutted.

A video showing the destroyed cathedral can be seen here. The Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, Dr Colm O'Reilly, has said he will restore St Mel's Cathedral in Longford , though it will cost over €2 million. Bishop O'Reilly said he celebrated midnight mass to a packed Cathedral. He said that it was an extraordinary contrast the next morning. Construction on St Mel's started in 1840 and it opened in September, 1856.

More on this story here.

Though details of any fundraising efforts have yet to emerge, the Diocese can be contacted as follows:-

The Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois
Diocesan Office,
Ballinalee Road.
Longford.
Co. Longford.
Phone: +353 (0)43-3346432
Fax: +353 (0)43-3346833
Email: ardaghdi at iol.ie

(image: RTÉ)

New Liturgical Year

A new liturgical year is almost upon us. This coming Sunday is Advent Sunday.

This year we will, again, focus on 1st and 2nd Class feasts, drawing on material compiled last year. Whether this blog is able to continue after November 2010, the net result of a further series of posts will result in all 1st and 2nd class Feasts being covered, including those inhibited by Sundays (and vice-à-versa) last year.

However, this year rubrical directions will focus on the Breviary - the prayer of the Church - and in particular commemorations, and which Office to say when. Points to note will be indicated in brackets.

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A reminder:

One of the authors of this blog intends to retire from blogging by Spring 2010. If you have time to help out with this blog, and see it continue, please leave a comment, or email markadm at catholic dot org.

Blog Help Wanted

One of the authors of this blog intends to retire from blogging by Spring 2010. If you have time to help out with this blog, and see it continue, please leave a comment, or email markadm at catholic dot org.

All comments are moderated, hence private comments can be left which will remain unpublished.