We stand on Holy Ground.  We stand on the spot where, thirty years ago, the successor of Peter, Pope John Paul II, described his joy at following in the footsteps of Patrick who came to the nearby Hill of Slane to light the first Paschal Fire in Ireland.  It was my great privilege to accompany the Holy Father here to Drogheda.  We came by helicopter.  After seeing the huge crowds in the Phoenix Park, I was thrilled to see that there was another huge crowd here in Drogheda. They were well catered for, thanks to the excellent organisation which had been carried out by the Committee led by Bishop James Lennon. 

The Holy Father took on an immense day’s work that particular day.  He left Vatican City very early, went to Rome airport, arrived at Dublin Airport, went from there to the Nunciature; to the Phoenix Park; down to Drogheda; back to Dublin; toured the streets of Dublin; visited Áras an Uachtaráin and had a couple of other meetings. 

The end result was that the man didn’t get sitting down to his dinner until after midnight.  He said:  ‘The Irish are trying to kill me on the first day’.  Yes, indeed, we did try to kill him with meetings and travel and speeches and ceremonies.  But that was the kind of man Pope John Paul was.  He never said ’no’.  He came to Ireland en route to the USA and the United Nations. He was very sorry he didn’t get to Northern Ireland, especially as the other Church Leaders had joined Cardinal Ó Fiaich in inviting him there.
Here in Drogheda the Pope said:  ‘‘I desire to visit those places in Ireland where the power of God and the action of the Holy Spirit had been especially manifested. 

I would like you to think a little bit about that.  This is one of those places in Ireland where the power of God and the action of the Holy Spirit have been especially manifested. Now, of course, we all know Drogheda is a special place and that Drogheda people are special people.  But it is nice to know that this has always been the case.  It is good to know that others, including the Pope, have noticed this also.  Why did the Pope come to this conclusion?  He was well aware, I suppose, that Patrick had to pass Drogheda on the way to Slane.  On the Hill of Slane, Patrick; ‘for the first time in Ireland, lit the Paschal Fire, so that the light of Christ might shine forth on all of Ireland and unite all its people in the love of the one Jesus Christ’.  Drogheda welcomed Patrick, as later it would welcome Malachy, Oliver Plunkett, Mother Mary Martin and many others down through the years.  Here Pope John Paul prayed:  ‘May the light of Christ – the light of faith – continue always to shine out from Ireland’.

While in Ireland, the Pope reminded us powerfully of the challenge of remaining faithful in the midst of change. From his landing on Irish soil to the last minutes before his departure, Pope John Paul II acknowledged the outstanding fidelity of the Irish people to the Christian faith. After kissing the ground at Dublin Airport, he spoke of his gratitude ‘for the glorious contribution made by Ireland over the centuries to the spreading of the faith.’ As he departed from Shannon Airport he repeated those famous and important words – Ireland Semper fidelis! Ireland – always faithful.

Yet in reminding us of our heroic fidelity he conveyed a prophetic sense of anticipation that Ireland was about to enter one of its most challenging periods since the time of Patrick. In the opening words of the homily of his first Mass in the Phoenix Park in Dublin he spoke of how ‘Ireland, that has overcome so many difficult moments in her history, is being challenged in a new way today, for she is not immune from the influence of ideologies and trends which present day civilisation and progress carry with them.’ He spoke of the capability of mass media to bring into our homes a ‘new kind of confrontation with values and trends that up until now have been alien to Irish society.’ He spoke of the danger of a pervading materialism bringing new forms of slavery and an ‘aggressiveness that spares no one.’ He also said that ‘the most sacred principles, which were the sure guides for the behaviour of individuals and society, are being hollowed-out by false pretences concerning freedom, the sacredness of life, the indissolubility of marriage, the true sense of human sexuality, the right attitude towards the material goods that progress has to offer.’

Looking back we can now appreciate just how prophetic these words were. They were summed up in Pope John Paul II’s often quoted sermon from his final Mass of the visit in Limerick. It was here he said: ‘Ireland is at the point of decision in her history…. Ireland must choose. You the present generation of Irish people must decide; your choice must be clear and your decision firm”. But let us never forget – Ireland has overcome many difficult moments in her history.  Ireland can, and will, with the help of God, overcome those difficulties again.

Pope John Paul went on to talk about St. Oliver Plunkett and his canonisation which he attended in 1975 at the invitation of his friend, the late Cardinal Conway. 
When he spoke at Drogheda, Pope John Paul gave a powerful message about peace and reconciliation.  It was not to be just any peace and reconciliation, but a peace based on justice.  He turned to four specific groups of people to deliver what he asked.

1.    He spoke to the men and women of violence – especially the young men and women of violence.
2.    He spoke to fathers and mothers.
3.    He appealed to leaders – especially political leaders.
4.    He spoke to Catholics and Protestants.

Let us recall what was asked and then we can see what was given in response.

To the first group he said – “On my knees, I beg you to turn away from the paths of violence and to return to the ways of peace”.  Remember this was 1979 – the end of the first decade of the Troubles – the most bloody and violent decade of all.

It was into this context of fear and almost despair that the Apostle of Peace spoke his often quoted passionate pleading – “You must know” he said, “that there is a political, peaceful way to justice”.  Thirty years later we have seen what was almost unimaginable then.  Almost all the paramilitary organisations have decommissioned, others are in the process of doing so.  We have the Assembly – where politicians work together in a power-sharing executive.  Today we give thanks to God for all of this.

And yet, because we still have a small, but determined group, determined apparently to carry on the fight – I want to make my own the words which Pope John Paul addressed to young people on this spot:  “I say to you, with all the love I have for you, with all the trust I have in young people, do not listen to voices which speak the language of hatred, revenge, retaliation.  Do not follow any leaders who train you in ways of inflicting death.  Love life- respect life – in yourselves and in others. Give yourselves to the service of life, not of death” I beg all of you here today to pray that this appeal will be heeded.

Next the Pope spoke to fathers and mothers saying, “Teach your children how to forgive.  Make your homes places of love and forgiveness.  Make your streets and neighbourhoods centres of peace and reconciliation”.  Here is the recipe for a secure and harmonious future, not just in politics but in personal and domestic life also.

There have been some good initiatives.  I remember meeting a group some years ago, led by the Mayor of Drogheda, which included pupils from St. Joseph’s CBS who were on a visit to a school in Ballyclare, County Antrim.  Of course there have also been the developments at the site of the Battle of the Boyne which have been warmly welcomed also.

These are the kind of efforts which the Holy Father had in mind when he said:  “Never think you are betraying your own community by seeking to understand and respect and accept those of a different tradition”.  We need lots of those initiatives. 

All the people in positions of leadership and all members of political parties and all who support them were encouraged to make a special effort.  They were told that they would serve their own tradition best by working for reconciliation with others.  I think that the St. Oliver Plunkett Peace Group, ably led by Tony Burns, have risen magnificently to the challenge.

The Holy Father made a very special appeal to all who, he said, are called to the noble vocation of politics.  He urged them to have courage and to face up to their responsibilities.  The challenge is ever timely and relevant not just for politicians, for all leaders.  The cause of peace, reconciliation and justice will always require the courage to adopt policies that promote the genuine common good.

Finally, the Pilgrim of Peace turned to Catholics and Protestants saying:  “My message is one of peace and love.  May no Irish Protestant think that the Pope is an enemy, a danger or threat.  My desire is that instead Protestants would see in me a friend and a brother in Christ”.  Again it is timely to recall those words in a week when some here have tried to drum up opposition to a possible Papal visit.  “Let history record” the Pope concluded: “That at a difficult moment in the experience of the people of Ireland, the Bishop of Rome set foot in your land, that he was with you and prayed with you for peace and reconciliation for the victory of justice and love over hatred and violence”.

A recent piece of research here in the Republic has shown that there has been a dramatic drop in support for Christian Church Unity in principle over recent years. 

This has to be disappointing when we consider what Pope John Paul II said here thirty years ago.  Speaking of the invitations to visit Northern Ireland he said they were “an indication of the fact that the Second Vatican Council is achieving its work and that we are meeting with our fellow Christians of other Churches”.  However, I believe the situation is not as bleak as the perceptions revealed by the Report.  Slow but solid progress has been made.

The research referred to, was carried out by Father Michéal McGréil, SJ and goes on to say that “The scandal of Church division puts people off the Christian Faith while evidence of Church Unity would make it authentic and attractive.  A revival of the ecumenical movement is called for from the findings of this Report”.

•    What we have to ask ourselves now is: 
•    How is the Power of God being shown here and now in Drogheda? 
•    Where is the Holy Spirit at work?
•    How are you and I co-operating or maybe not co-operating with the Holy Spirit here and now?

Ireland is once again at a moment of decision, a time of choice.  Let us ask Our Lady, ‘Queen of Peace and Queen of Ireland’, to help the pilgrim Church – that is – all the people who profess their faith in His son – to say ‘Yes’ once again – as she did with such serenity and fidelity – to Him who is the way, the truth and the life – both now and forever AMEN

When I first saw this beautiful Tyrone countryside around Ballygawley I was on a mission.  I was on a mission to places like Eglish, Donaghmore, Brackaville and Ardboe.  I am talking about thirty years ago – and I was a teacher then – a Secondary school teacher.  But I was also Manager of the football team.  That was the reason for the mission – out of the school – to take on the mighty young men of South Derry.  We usually chose a neutral venue and it usually was somewhere in Tyrone.

Years later I was to come again to Tyrone and specifically to St Ciaran’s College.  It was Prize-Giving Night and the Head Boy was one Emlyn McGinn, now Father Emlyn McGinn, a priest of this diocese and Chaplain to Dundalk Institute of Technology and doing excellent work there as well as working in a parish at the weekends.

Today I come back again to St. Ciaran’s College to discover more about this school and about all the excellent education that takes place here.  I am delighted to discover the missionary flavour of this Mass.  It reflects the outstanding Missionary Outreach which is truly placed here under the leadership of Pascal, Claire, Divina and Chris. 

Of course they would be the first to acknowledge that this could not take place without the help of many, many other people – the help of the Principal, staff and parents – but above all, the help of the entire student body which is so very important.  Today we pray that God may continue to bless your great generosity – especially the goodness and generosity of all who actually went to Zambia.

The motto of this school is Fortis in Fide – it is usually translated as Strong in Faith.  But Fortis also implies ‘strong’ in the sense of being brave and courageous in standing up for your faith, to defend it.  Today the greatest courage is, in some places, needed to actually practise the faith, and to pray; to go to Mass and to go to Confession.  For let us face it – that is the source of the energy that enables people to grow strong in faith.  The human body will not grow strong without the nourishment of good food and drink.  In the same way, we will not grow strong in faith and we will not stay strong in faith without nourishing that faith.

Recently a prominent person in this county stated publicly that he no longer believed – in other words that he had lost his faith.  An Irish bishop met him and asked how could this happen to someone who was brought up in a family that believed, worshipped in a parish that believed, was educated in a  school where the practices of the faith was strong.  “Bishop” he said in reply “you have lived a different life to me.  You never stopped praying.  I did, and that is what makes the difference”.

I loved your Opening Procession – the map of Africa reminded us all of our call to help the poorest of the poor.  I am delighted to hear of your commitment to help Father P J Gormley and the SMAs in Mulenga. 
One of the last times I met Father P J. Gormley he was pulling on his Tyrone shirt in Dromantine and setting out to help the Tyrone Captain carry the Sam Maguire Cup across the border at Aughnacloy. 

On Sunday afternoon – the Kerry Captain proudly proclaimed “Ta Sam ag dul Abhaile” – “Sam is going home” and it is a proud honour to carry that much coveted trophy into one’s native county but it is an honour that is reserved for the few whereas the honour of carrying the faith and love of God to others is open and available.  But, of course, to do that we ourselves must have that love and faith in ourselves.  No-one can give to others what they do not possess themselves.

Yesterday I was in Dromantine and I was thinking about that Gospel which we heard just now.  It gives us the last words spoken by Jesus here on Earth.  “All power on heaven and Earth has been given to me.  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations”. 

Just try and imagine.  Jesus has received all power in Heaven and on Earth and what does he do with it?  He shares it.  He delegates his apostles to extend His kingdom to the ends of the Earth.  He promises to stay with them and to give them the power to do what he was asking them to. 

As I wandered around the corridors of Dromantine I saw the lovely plaque to the founder of the SMAs – Melchior de Marion Bresillae.  Early in life he made three resolutions:

1.    To be a missionary with all his heart;
2.    To neglect no means of advancing God’s word; and
3.    To seize every opportunity to preach the Gospel.
When he founded the SMAs in 1858 they took on their first principle:  to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the most abandoned people and they are still at it as you know well and the presence of Father O’Kane here, and of Father P J Gormley and his colleagues and their cousins, the Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles, in so many places, prove they are still at it despite the many setbacks

The first group of SMAs went in 1852 to Sierra Leone. They all got Yellow Fever and died, including the Founder.  But the Spirit and the ideal did not die.  The torch had been passed to others and they said: ‘Although we have lost our Father and Elder Brother, we are confident we have in Heaven an Advocate who will plead our cause all the more successfully from being near to God’. 

That is why the torch was so appropriate in the Opening Procession.  It represents the Light of Christ – the hope of the world.  That light has been passed from generation to generation and now the torch – the baton – has arrived with the present generation and each one of us is called to reflect this light in the kind of life we live – in the kind of people we are and in the way we treat other people.  That is the way the torch is passed on, to become a source of light to those who find themselves in darkness and despair.

The last item in the Procession was a school blazer.  It represents each and every student and where they are now in their lives.  Each and every one of us is on a journey – from birth to death and through death to everlasting life.  On that journey we meet many others whoa re making the journey with us – some help us – some hinder us.  We have to negotiate the various stages and overcome the different challenges – like when we first went to school, or when we left Primary School and came here.  It is important to remember those times and to recall who and what actually helped you most at those times.

We have many helpers to assist us:
•    Our family and our friends
•    Our school and our teachers
•    Our parish and its priests
•    Our grannies.
Our mission is not restricted to helping those who live in Africa.

I mentioned Confirmation at the beginning of this sermon.  You have all received Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation and Confession.  Baptism and Confirmation cannot be repeated but Holy Communion and Confession can, and should, be received often. 

I think it was the Tyrone Manager who said that ‘when you are knocked down on the field of play – that is not what is important, what is most important is how long it takes you to get on’.

We are all knocked down on the journey of life – when we yield to temptation.  Confession was given to us by a loving Saviour as a means of picking ourselves up and getting on with the journey – forgive us our trespasses.  I am aware that I am over-using the football metaphors today but I think you will understand the reason. 

A last thought – if you don’t attend the training sessions – you cannot reasonably expect a place on the team.  In the same way – God who created us without our help, will not save us without our help.

One great pillar of strength and source of consolation is Mary the Mother of Jesus and our mother too.  Jesus gave her to us as he was about to die.  I hope that we never think that we can do without her help.           

AMEN

I am very grateful to be invited here to St Ciaran’s College today.  It gives me the opportunity to meet again those whom I met on their Confirmation day and to meet again some people whom I met on previous visits here to this great school.

Today we come to offer Holy Mass together.  That is one of the great privileges of our lives as Followers of Jesus Christ –

•    To be able to be present to hear the Word of God,
•    To praise His name, and
•    To get a share in that power which He gave to his disciples.

Today we celebrate the opening of another School Year.  May it be a happy and successful one.  We call down God’s blessing on all who come here. 

We give thanks for the Missionary Outreach of St Ciaran’s to Zambia.  We pray for all missionaries – especially the SMA Fathers and, in particular, Father P J Gormley in Mulenga Township.  I welcome his colleague, Father O’Kane and all the other priests who are concelebrating here today.

I am very glad to celebrate this Mass of thanksgiving for 70 years of the Apostolic Society here in Armagh.  Today we give praise and thanks to God for all God’s gifts, but especially for His Son, Jesus Christ.  We remember especially the command of Jesus, “to go make disciples of all nations” and for His fantastic promise, “Behold I am with you always, even to the end of time.” 

We give thanks today, especially for missionaries who have taken that command of Jesus to heart.  We give thanks especially for the 2,000 Irish lay and religious missionaries who are serving in 83 different countries.  The majority of Irish missionaries work in the areas of pastoral care, health and education and the Irish Missionary Union invites all Irish people to celebrate the contribution of Irish people on missions around the world and to highlight the activities in which missionaries are involved.  They invite us across the bridge to reach out to peoples from all over the world.  We are especially grateful for the missionaries here present today, especially for   Fr Damien McKenna.  We remember in this Mass the people whom they love and serve in their various mission territories.

We give thanks to God for the Apostolic Society and for the ever-faithful Apostolic Workers who provide wonderful back-up to their Brothers and Sisters on the mission fields.

Here in Ireland we celebrate October as Mission Awareness month.  Mission Alive is a project of the Irish Missionary Union.  It promotes, renews and celebrates the work of missionaries in witnessing the Gospel of justice and peace around the world.  The Irish Missionary Union is a body of 83 missionary lay and religious organisations.  They are dedicated to supporting the work of their members and the people they serve. 

Here in this diocese at the moment, we have two priests from Nigeria working in Dundalk and Ardee.  They are members of the Missionary Society of St Paul.  We have had priests from other African nations, for example, from Burundi, helping out over the summer.  We welcome them very sincerely. 

Irish missionaries have always received a welcome around the world.  They are the first in turn to welcome all newcomers to Ireland and they deplore the horrific racist attacks on migrants which have blemished the face of Ireland in recent times.

And so today I invite you, with great pride and great joy, to celebrate the contribution of Irish people on mission around the world.  It is only right that we highlight what Irish missionaries are doing.  Today Irish Mission Awareness invites us to cross the bridge and reach out.  It is important that we try and understand the needs of the people where the missionaries are serving. 

We applaud young people who travel to mission countries for mission experience, for example, the University of Ulster at Coleraine and a group from Habitat for Humanity who are involved in building houses in Ethiopia.  We applaud those many schools who also organise such projects.  Here in Armagh, for example, St Catherine’s College brought groups to Kenya.  St Patrick’s Grammar School are involved in helping in the orphanages in Romania..  Sr Noelle Corscadden, the Chairperson of                          Chara says, “What distinguished the development and work of missionaries on a project is that they do not just tackle poverty through the practicality of providing aid, nor by providing the physical presence of assistance.  What they also provide is a deep compassion and long-term commitment to building up the communities and peoples with whom they both live and work”.  This is what makes the Missionaries stand apart from other aid agencies and that is why the impact of missionaries has made such a difference to some of the world’s poorest countries.  They bring deep compassion and long-term commitment to building up the communities and peoples with whom they work. 

According to Irish Aid, the missionaries have tirelessly worked in the world’s poorest countries for over a century.  Today these efforts continue with Irish missionaries working to alleviate poverty and suffering in developing countries.  They are engaged in projects and programmes in a variety of areas including education, health care, humanitarian relief and conflict resolution.  According to Sister Miriam Dougan, the President of the Irish Mission Union, Irish missionaries play a central role today in advocating for the vulnerable who are struggling against debt, unfair trade policies and human rights abuses.  The missionaries are engaged in this work with the same passion, spiritual commitment and humility that has always characterised missionary work and these qualities stem directly from a commitment to living the Gospel.

Writing in a special edition of the Irish Missionary Union Report, Fr Eamon Edward, the IMU Executive’s Secretary says, “Any genuine attempt to read the signs of the times today in the western world must recognise that our world is changing in a significant way.  From a faith point of view this reality is inviting us to reflect on the fact that the Holy Spirit is at work, changing our world and our Church.”  It seems to me that he says that at this time in our history the Holy Spirit is speaking clearly to us of the necessity to discover how we can be missionaries to our own people.  Leadership is called for in the Irish Church to move us away from a pastoral maintenance model of Church to a missionary model, therein lies hope for the future.

In his message for Mission Sunday 2009, Pope Benedict appeals to all of us to become more deeply aware of the command of Christ, to go make disciples of all nations.  He says we must live the longing to illuminate all peoples with the light of Christ that shines on the face of the Church, so that all may be gathered into the one human family under God’s loving fatherhood.  The Church works, not to extend power or affirm dominion, but to carry to all, Christ, the salvation of the world. 

The effort to proclaim the Gospel to the people of today is a service rendered to the Christian community and also to the whole of humanity, humanity which has experienced marvellous achievements but which seems to have lost its sense of ultimate realities and of existence itself.  Dispersion, multiplicity, conflict, enmity will be calmed and reconciled through the blood of the Cross and led back to unity. 

The Church wishes to transform the world with its proclamation of the Gospel of love.  It is a Gospel that can always illuminate a world grown dim and give us the courage needed to keep living and working and in this way to cause the light of God to enter into the world.  To this mission, Pope Benedict calls all the members and institutions of the Church to participate. 

The essential mission of the Church is to evangelise all people.  It is a duty which the widespread and profound changes in present day society render ever more urgent.  At stake is the eternal salvation of all people, the golden accomplishment of human history and the universe.  Pope Benedict asks all Catholics to pray that the Holy Spirit will intensify the Church’s passion for the mission to spread the Kingdom of God and to support missionaries and Christian communities involved in the front line, often in situation of hostility and persecution.  At the same time I ask everyone to offer, as a sign of communion among the churches, financial assistance, especially in these times of crisis affecting all humanity, to help the young churches to be able to eliminate the nations with the gospel of charity.

Missionaries are involved in facing the changes and challenges of this new millennium.  For example, the 40 million HIV Aids sufferers spread across the globe; the rise of tuberculosis and malaria world-wide, with 1.8 million dying from TB in Africa last year; the sheer levels of poverty and hunger, millions of refugees living in sub-human conditions, the issues of conflict, corruption and debt.  Mission tries to bring God’s love and God’s hope into this brokenness.