Former Mullingar curate and now Bishop Denis Nulty received a rapturous welcome from a packed Cathedral congregation as he celebrated Mass for the Feast of Christ the King, marking the beginning of the Cathedral’s 75th anniversary celebrations.
It was an emotional ‘home coming’ for the popular new Bishop, whose service to the Cathedral left a lasting impression for very many parishioners.
During the Mass, Bishop Nulty spoke of his love for the Cathedral and its people. He recalled his time visiting parishioners in his pastoral area and his work with his brother priests over 10 happy years.
“I equally love the Blessed Sacrament Chapel here. I think it is one of the finest places of prayer I have ever been in and, returning to an earlier theme, I pray tribute to all the Ministers of Holy Communion, the Readers and the Sacristans for their example of reverence for us priests” the Bishop said.
True to form, Bishop Nulty made a plea for vocations to the priesthood. “The greatest need in the Irish Church is for young men to respond to the invitation of the King of Kings to follow Him. I encourage more young people to take up this invitation during the Cathedral’s Jubilee Year.
Home page photo: Fr Joseph Naikarakudy CC, Fr Paul Crosbie CC, Fr Paul Connell, Alison Maguire, Bishop Michael Smith, Bishop Denis Nulty, Fr Padraig McMahon Adm, Mary Hughes, Fr Michael Kilmartin CC, Alma Manny and Mgr Daniel Buor.
Photo above: Cathedral Youth Team members Colleen Hope, Rebecca Heery, Courtney Hynes, Sarah Hynes (Team Leader), Louise Gannon, Amy Nulty and Lean Mesa.
Photos kindly provided by John Macauley, Mullingar