New shrine of Blessed Edmund Rice to be unveiled

Wednesday, 27th April 2011

A new shrine of Blessed Edmund Rice will be unveiled in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity after 10.30am mass on Thursday, 5th May, the feast day of Edmund Rice. Organised by the Past Pupils Union of Mount Sion School, the shrine is a fitting tribute to the founder of the Christian and Presentation Brothers.

At 7.30 that evening, as part of the Edmund Rice Celebration Week, Br. Martin Kenneally, Congregation Leader of the Presentation Brothers worldwide, will give a key note address in the Edmund Rice Chapel on Barrack Street at a mass presided by Fr. Pat Fitzgerald, Parish Priest of St. Paul's. Providing the music will be local group Dulcet, Waterford's first female soprano trio.

Running from the 3rd to the 6th of May, the week long series of events marks the feast day of Edmund Rice (5th of May), the founder of the Christian Brothers and Presentation Brothers. Merchant turned philanthropist and religious brother, Edmund Rice died at Mount Saion in 1844, leaving behind a remarkable story and lasting legacy.

Highlights of the week include a special nightly mass at 7.30pm (Tuesday to Thursday). Apart from Fr. Pat Fitzgerald on the Thursday evening, there will be two other visiting celebrants.The first is Fr. Michael Mullins, who will say Mass and give a homily on the Tuesday evening. Parish priest of Ballybricken, he's the former president of John's College and professor of scripture at Maynooth, as well as a renowned historian and lecturer.

The other guest priest is Fr. Sean Melody (Parish Priest of the Sacred Heart, the Folly) on the Wednesday evening. Joining him will be Monica Reilly from Monkstown in Co. Dublin. Long time advocate of the poor, she is also a strong promoter of the New Universe Story. Providing the music for the ceremony will be the Edmund Rice Choral Society.

To conclude the week long celebration, a special Taize service will be held in the chapel at 8pm on Friday 7th May. Accompanying the readers will the Waterford Peace Choir. Formed in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing in 1998, and comprising members of all denominations, the choir promotes the message of peace and reconciliation through its music.As with all evening events, refreshments will be served afterwards and everyone is invited. For more information about the various events, visit http://www.edmundrice.ie or call 051 874 390.