St Kieran's Day has particular significance for people of Clareen

ST Kieran's Day has a particular significance for the people of Clareen and they extend a warm welcome to all those who wish to join them in the celebrations of their Patron's great Feast Day on Sunday March 5th next.

This year has an added significance as they welcome the recently ordained Bishop of Ossory, Bishop Niall Coll to celebrate with them. Bishop Niall will be the main celebrant at Mass in St Kieran's Church at 11am that Sunday and will then remain with them to make the traditional pilgrim journey to the three stations associated with the Saint; St Kieran's Well, St Kieran's Bush and the grounds of the monastic site. This is a tradition as old as Christianity itself and for generations, pilgrims have walked these same paths in the footsteps of St Kieran himself.

Bishop Coll was ordained in St Mary's Cathedral Kilkenny on Sunday January 22nd. A native of Donegal, he attended St Baithin's NS, St Johnston, and St Eunan's College, Letterkenny, before entering the National Seminary in Maynooth in September 1981 to begin his formation for the priesthood. He was ordained in 1988 and following two further years of post graduate study in Rome, he was appointed to St Eunan's College as chaplain and teacher. He returned to Rome for three further years of study in 1992 and on his return was appointed as a lecturer in St Patrick's College, Carlow. Three years later to returned to Raphoe Diocese and was curate in Dungloe and chaplain in Pobalscoil na Rossan. In 2001 he was appointed as Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies at St Mary's University Belfast and remained there until 2020 when he returned to Raphoe as parish priest of Drumholm, transferring to the neighbouring parish of Tawnawilly a year later.

Every bishop chooses a motto which seeks to encapsulate his thoughts, prayers and priorities as he begins his new ministry. Bishop Niall has chosen the words “Christ Jesus our Hope” and this theme will be central to the celebrations in Clareen. Indeed this motto truly reflects the faith and hope of Kieran's pilgrim people back through the mists of time and was there ever such a need, in the history of humanity, as now for such Christian hope?

This monastic parish of Clareen is a very holy and blessed place. It holds a special place in the diocese as it was from there that the Diocese of Ossory came to birth. Pope Francis, who appointed Bishop Niall, wrote in one of his Encyclicals 'Fratelli Tutti' of the importance of fraternity and social friendship. He reminds us that we share a common home and he reaffirms the dignity of every human person created in the image and likeness of God.

As the people of Clareen prepare for their feast day and reflect on the life of St Kieran, they can experience him speaking to them in their daily lives, exactly as Pope Francis suggested. St Kieran lived in a community of sharing. Is he not inviting us to recognise one another as travelling companions, truly sisters and brothers, bearing witness to Christ Jesus our hope as we journey through life? Kieran is depicted under the main altar in the church sending out his followers into society to be missionary disciples. Is he not putting into action in a real way what Pope Franics says is his encyclical; “Let no ideology remove God from society”?

We have plenty of evidence to show that where God has been removed that society has ended up adoring idols which leads to a “throw away” culture which tramples on the dignity of others. This mentality gradually leads to the denial of freedoms of conscience and religion resulting in an impoverished humanity without hope or ideas to guide it.

So come and join them in Clareen in their celebration of faith on March 5th. Be with them as they make their pilgrim journey You will be very welcome. Afterwards come to the Parish Hall where refreshments will be served and take the opportunity to meet old friends and to welcome Bishop Niall among them.