The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kerry pilgrims prepare for Pope Francis’ visit
KERRY parishioners will play their part in the Papal visit this summer with more than 1,000 parishioners from across the county planning to travel to the Phoenix Park on Sunday, August 25.
All 53 parishes from the Diocese of Kerry and Cork will be represented according to Aileen Murphy from the Pastoral Development Team, which is helping co-ordinate the visits.
Parish secretaries managed to secure tickets for over 1,000 people after they went on sale on Monday morning.
The Papal Mass at Knock sold out in just hours, but tickets for the Phoenix park Mass on Sunday were easier to come by.
Buses will travel from Listowel, Ballybunion, Ardfert, Tralee, Dingle, Killarney, Killorglin, Kenmare and Castlisland to Dublin for the Papal Mass.
“There is great excitement. It will be a day to remember. All those that travelled in 1979 still remember that day. There are still stories being told,” says Aileen.
“There will be buses galore, and all parishes will be represented. There has been a huge response from Kerry.”
Now, parishioners will get to meet Pope Francis in the first Papal visit in almost 40 years.
He is due in Ireland on August 25 and 26 as part of the World Meeting of Families 2018. Kerry parishioners will also be represented at the Papal Mass, with the Diocesan choir made from singers from all parishes in the Diocese of Kerry. It will perform at the Phoenix Park. Singers from the Diocese of Castleisland, Kenmare, Killorglin, Ballyduff, Causeway, Fossa and Firie,s among others, are part of the choir, and they will be right alongside Pope Francis in the sanctuary at the Phoenix Park Mass. Their participation in the important occasion is creating a great buzz around Kerry.
For those not travelling to the Papal visit, there will also be a number of special events in Kerry, including a Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral in Killarney on Tuesday, August 21. It will be led by Bishop of Kerry, Ray Browne.
A Pastoral congress takes place as part of the papal visit, and ten people from each diocese will be invited to this, which will also be attended by Pope Francis.