OPENING OF THE DE LA SALLE PASTORAL CENTRE
ARCHBISHOP Diarmuid Martin visited Wicklow town on Sunday as he officially opened the De La Salle Pastoral Centre after first officiating 11.30 a.m. mass.
The Pastoral Centre first opened in 2018 and has since undergone considerable refurbishment works, which were recently completed. The Parish Office is also in the centre now, which also contains eight rooms for rental along with a large hall space. In excess of 40 groups use the centre on a regular basis.
While delivering his homily, Archbishop Martin recalled that St Patrick’s Church had originally been opened by Wicklow man, Archbishop Daniel Murray in 1844.
‘Wicklow was then a small town. Today the population of the Municipal area is well over 20,000. What is more, while 13 per cent of the population is over 65 years old, 33 per cent is under 25. Wicklow has a young and growing population. Alongside being a proud part of the Garden of Ireland, Wicklow town area is commuter land, with its own problems of time spent each day travelling and the consequent changed family relations,’ stated Archbishop Martin.
He also touched on the need for the church to reach out to new generations.
‘Times have changed and the challenge of building a faith-inspired community requires new beginnings once again. The opening of the new Parish Centre marks another stage of the presence of the community of faith here in Wicklow. I express my deepest gratitude to all who worked in the design, development and building of the centre,’ stated Archbishop Martin.
Once mass was finished, the Hospitality Group fed and watered over 250 guests back at the De La Salle Pastoral Centre.
Archbishop Martin blessed the premises, while members of the public enjoyed tours of the facility.
Afterwards, the Archbishop spent over an hour talking to parishioners and enjoying the local hospitality.