By editor - 30 May, 2016
Thousands of devotees of St Anthony are expected in Knock on Saturday 11 June, one of eight locations the relics of the Saint will visit in Ireland between 9 and 17 June.
The other locations in Ireland are Armagh, Dublin, Killarney, Sligo, Derry, Longford and Cahir.
A special welcome ceremony for the relics will take place in Knock at 11am on 11 June and this will be followed by veneration of the relics in Knock Basilica until 2.30pm.
The Polish Community Pilgrimage Mass will take place in the Basilica at 3pm followed by veneration until 7.30pm when there will be a concelebrated Mass, at which Archbishop Michael Neary will preside.
The relics will depart early the next day for Sligo cathedral.
They will be accompanied by Fr Mario Conte, editor of the Messenger of Saint Anthony, the magazine published by the Conventual Franciscan Friars of St Anthony’s Basilica in Padua, Italy, where the Saint is buried.
Irish people have a strong tradition of devotion to St Anthony and are accustomed to praying to the Saint for the recovery of lost items.
Anthony of Padua was a Portuguese Franciscan friar. He was born and raised in a wealthy family in Lisbon.
Noted by his contemporaries for his forceful preaching and expert knowledge of scripture, he was the fastest canonised saint in the Church’s history. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church on 16 January 1946.
He is Patron of: lost people or things; American Indians; animals; infertility; Brazil; the elderly; fishermen; harvests; horses; the oppressed and poor; Portugal; pregnant women; shipwrecks; and travellers.
In his writings, St Anthony often speaks of mercy, describing God as the ‘Father of Mercy’.
Pope Francis has made mercy one of the primary focuses of his papacy and the Jubilee Year of Mercy is a special period of universal pardon, emphasising God’s forgiveness and mercy.
When Pope Francis was Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, he led a prominent procession through the streets of the Argentinian capital in the year 2000, carrying in his hands a reliquary containing a relic of St Anthony of Padua – a piece of his floating rib.
The future Pope’s devotion to St Anthony was due to the Saint’s love, care and concern for the poor and marginalised. Known for helping people find lost items, St Anthony intercedes with those trying to find a job, a home, faith, love, hope and mercy.
The relics will remain exposed during the Eucharistic Celebrations taking place on the dates and at the venues below. At the conclusion of each Mass, all those attending will be invited to approach the relics and to receive an extraordinary blessing.
In this video Fr Mario Conte explains which relics will visit Ireland and Britain and gives some information about the life of St Anthony.
Ireland June 9 – 17
THURSDAY, JUNE 9
TIPPERARY CAHIR
St. Mary’s Parish
12noon; 7.30 pm: Masses;
Veneration from after 12 noon Mass
FRIDAY, JUNE 10
KILLARNEY
St Mary’s Cathedral
10.30am; 6.15 pm: Masses;
Veneration all day
SATURDAY, JUNE 11
KNOCK
Basilica of Our Lady
3pm (Polish); 7.30 pm: Masses
11am: Veneration all day
SUNDAY, JUNE 12
SLIGO
St. Mary’s Cathedral
12.00noon; 7.00pm: Masses
Veneration all day after 12noon Mass
MONDAY, JUNE 13 Saint Anthony’s Feast Day
DUBLIN
St Mary’s Pro Cathedral
Masses 12.45pm; 5.45pm with Archbishop Diarmuid Martin
Veneration continues between Masses up to 8pm
TUESDAY, JUNE 14
LONGFORD
St Mel’s Cathedral
1pm; 6.30pm (with Bishop Duffy) Masses;
Veneration from 1pm
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15
THURSDAY, JUNE 16
DERRY
St Eugene’s Cathedral
Wednesday 15 June
Formal welcome of the relics at St Eugene’s at 12noon
Veneration continues until 7.30pm Mass
Veneration continues after Mass until 10pm
Thursday 16 June
Mass 8am and 10am
Veneration continues up to 1pm.
THURSDAY, JUNE 16
FRIDAY, JUNE 17
ARMAGH
St Patrick’s Cathedral
Thursday 16 June
Veneration from 4.00pm
7.30pm Mass with Archbishop Eamon Martin
Friday 17 June
Mass 10am
Veneration continues until 1pm
Britain June 19 – 27
SUNDAY, JUNE 19
PAISLEY, SCOTLAND
St Mirin’s Cathedral
11am Bishop John Keenan will process relics from diocesan office to cathedral
Masses: 12.00noon with Bishop John Keenan; 2.30pm (Polish); 6.30pm
Veneration: 11.00am; 1.00-2.30pm; 3.30-6.30pm; 7.15-8.00pm
MONDAY, JUNE 20
MIDDLESBROUGH
St Mary’s Cathedral
12.00noon (Bishop Drainey); 6.30pm: Masses
9am (sung prayer); 1.00pm (sermon-Fr. Mario); 4.30pm (choral vespers)
9.30-12.00noon; 1.30-4.30pm; 5.00-8.00pm: Veneration
FROM TUESDAY, JUNE 21
TO WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22
MANCHESTER, SALFORD
St John’s Cathedral
Tuesday: 12.10pm: Mass;
Veneration all day from 11.00am;
Wednesday: 10.00am: Mass
9.00-10.0am; 10.45am-12.10pm; 1.00pm till late afternoon: Veneration
THURSDAY JUNE 23
SHEFFIELD
Cathedral of St Marie
Masses: 12.45pm with Bishop Ralph Heskett; 5.30pm:
Veneration: 10.15-11.15am; 1.30-5.00pm;6.15-7.00pm
11.30-12.30 (Holy Hour); 12.30-12.45pm (Prayer)
FRIDAY, JUNE 24
SHREWSBURY
Cathedral of Our Lady Help of Christians
Veneration from 11am to 7.30pm
Masses: 12.15pm; 7.30pm
SATURDAY, JUNE 25
BIRMINGHAM
St Chad’s Cathedral
Mass 10.00am; 4.30pm Vigil Mass for Sunday
Veneration all day until 8pm
FROM SUNDAY, JUNE 26
TO TUESDAY, JUNE 28
LONDON
St. Anthony’s Parish
56 St. Anthony’s Road
Forest Gate
Sunday: 12.00noon: Mass
1.00-8.00pm: Veneration
Monday: 7.45am;10am: Masses
Veneration all day
