A special Mass has been held in Derry to mark the move of the city’s Franciscan Friars of Renewal to Galliagh.
The Fanciscan Friars at the Mass of Thanksgiving in Galliagh.
A small group of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, who had been living and working in the Long Tower parochial house at Victoria Road off Abercorn, have taken up residence at St Joseph’s parochial house in Galliagh in the parish of The Three Patrons.
During a special Mass of Thanksgiving for the Gift of Consecrated Life celebrated in St Joseph’s Church yesterday, Father Michael McCaughey PP, The Three Patrons, welcomed the Franciscan Friars to their new home.
Among those in attendance were the Derry Diocesan Administrator, Father Francis Bradley, Most Rev Dr Seamus Séamus Hegarty, retired Bishop of Derry, 30 priests and 40 religious from around the Diocese of Derry.
When announcing the move to the Three Patrons – the largest in the city and diocese with a Catholic population of just under 25,000 -Fr Bradley said the Friars would “to take root amongst a privileged people and help serve the needs, not only of this parish, but, from here, of the city and the Diocese of Derry as a whole.”
Coincidentally, the name “Galliagh” comes from the Irish Baile na gCailleach which acknowledges the presence there, for many centuries, of an ancient monastic settlement.
Rev. Bradley said the move would “better allow” the friars to “fulfil the demands of their charism as a religious order”.
The Diocesan Administrator also announced that Father Dermot McGirr is to leave the Three Patrons Parish – the largest in the city and diocese with a Catholic population of just under 25,000.
A new priest will move into the parish and take up residence at Carnhill with Father Michael McGavigan.
Along with parish priest, Father Michael McCaughey, of Pennyburn, these priests, says Rev. Bradley, will serve the day-to-day pastoral needs of the parish.
He added: “The visitation of homes and schools, the availability of priests and religious both for the celebration of the sacraments and the opportunity to encounter the living presence of Christ amongst us will, we hope, be enhanced by this change.”
He said he hoped parishioners would appreciate the wisdom of this change.
“It will make demands of many people, not least yourselves… There is risk involved but, with faith and hope, we’ll all put our shoulders to the load helped by the abiding presence of Christ.”
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