6th Year Family Mass 2019

There was a fantastic turnout for the 6th Year Family Mass last Saturday evening, held on the eve of the commencement of the 6th Year Retreats. These 3-Day Retreats (22nd – 24th September) in 14 different venues across 11 counties and the 4 provinces provide the opportunity to strengthen friendships, reflect on the future, deepen faith and, of course, have fun. The Mass – their last in the College Chapel – provided the perfect send off.

Chief Celebrant Fr. Cormac O’Brolchain urged them to be lions of both inner (relationship with God) and outer (relationship with family and friends) love. He told them that “a great school is one where the people love most”. During the Mass, Jack Deegan, David Furey, Andrew Jones, Mark Morrissey, Luke O’Brien, Patrick O’Connor, Michael O’Daly, David Ryan, Adam Simpson and Joseph Tierney were commissioned as Ministers of the Eucharist, joining Guy Acton, Rob Manning and Eoin O’Farrell who had been commissioned previously. This was a wonderful celebration of our characteristic spirit and the participation of so many boys as servers, processionists, readers, choirists and musicians contributed to a very special liturgy.

I thank Eunan O’Carroll (Class of 1984) and his wife Judy for representing the Union, our concelebrants Bishop Ellison, Fr. Tom Nash and Fr. Paddy Dundon, my colleagues Mr Madden, Ms McGlynn, Ms Crimmins, Mr Grumley-Traynor, Mr Orrock, Mr Hurl, Ms Nolan, organist Sarah Caldwell, Dean Mr Tom Ryan and of course, the boys, their parents, grandparents and siblings.

A great start to the Retreats boys – Go well, pray for us.

I thank my colleagues who have volunteered to accompany the 6th Years on their retreats and also, my colleagues who cover their classes while they’re away. In particular, I thank Mr Madden who puts it together, an incredible job.