A place of Christian faith and welcome
In October 2000, the Kilmore Diocesan Congress took place at St Patrick’s College, Cavan. This meeting of representatives of all the parishes, clergy and religious called for the establishment of a Pastoral Centre for the diocese. A Pastoral Plan for the Diocese of Kilmore was launched in 2002.
One of the primary functions of pastoral centres is to provide training and resources to individuals – priests, religious, lay people – and parishes as they strive to proclaim the Christian message in an ever-changing world.
On June 23, 2003, renovation works – costing in the region of €2.5m – began on the original Hague building to convert it into the Kilmore Diocesan Pastoral Centre. The centre began functioning in January 2004 and became fully operational in early 2005.
It was officially opened on Sunday, February 13, 2005, in the presence of Kilmore-native and a former teacher at St Patrick’s College, Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland and Bishop Leo O’Reilly of Kilmore.
Representatives of all the parishes in the diocese, as well as religious, clergy, and other invited guests took part in a service of blessing and thanksgiving to mark this important occasion in the life of the diocese. Journalist and barrister, Senator Ronan Mullen, was keynote speaker on the occasion.
The opening of the Pastoral Centre represented the implementation of one of the most important recommendations of the 2000 Diocesan Pastoral Plan.
In 2014-2015, significant work was carried out to the exterior of the building, which involved complete re-pointing, re-roofing, restoration of drain-pipes, upgrading of lightning protection measures and re-pinning of finials, costing over €1 million.
With the passage of time, the centre has developed into an oasis of Christian spirituality, education and growth in the diocese. This is in line with its vision and ethos.
The Kilmore Diocesan Pastoral Centre is a place of Christian faith and welcome. It is a centre of education, formation, support and outreach for the mission of the Diocese of Kilmore. It strives to nurture Catholic faith, pastoral renewal and development throughout the diocese, and provides a range of services and facilities supporting spiritual and personal well-being for individuals, groups and parishes seeking them. It also hosts a range of services and facilities that support people’s spiritual and personal well-being.
The ethos of the Kilmore Diocesan Pastoral Centre is based on the values of the Gospels and the teachings of the Catholic Church.
A number of external statutory and voluntary sector organisations also use the facilities available in the centre.
In the same way as the Diocese of Kilmore went through a period of great church reform in the 1800s, it now moves forward into a new phase of pastoral development to meet the needs and address the challenges and opportunities of the local Church in the years ahead.
The Diocesan Pastoral Centre and those based there who are engaged in pastoral development and faith formation look forward to playing their part in this important work in the coming years.