I’m sorry and I’m leaving

FATHER Edmond Grace, the priest who missed the Mass at the Church of St Therese at which Minister Josepha Madigan, right, stepped up to lead prayers, has announced he is leaving Dublin to take up a new role in Brussels. Speaking to the Irish Mail on Sunday, after Mass last night, Fr Grace, left, of the Jesuits on Leeson Street in the city, said the move was not prompted by last weekend’s events.

His announcement came as a surprise to parishioners in Mount Merrion, but he said it had been planned for some time.

Asked for his reaction to last weekend’s events, he said: ‘Basically, I would tell you the separation of Church and State has to work in both directions and I will leave it at that.’

Fr Grace took to the altar at the end of last night’s Mass and apologised, saying: ‘I really am very sorry that I did not turn up. I wasn’t here, I let you down.’ He said Archbishop Diarmuid Martin did not seek this apology.

Fr Grace then announced his move and got resounding and sustained applause.