Events confirmed for return of St Kilian’s relics to Mullagh

Details of planned events surrounding the visitation of the sacred relics of St Kilian to his native Mullagh and Cavan have been confirmed.

The major religious and civic event, organised in partnership between the Diocese of Kilmore, the Parish of Mullagh, and Cavan County Council, will see the jewel-laden skulls of St Kilian and his martyred colleagues - Saints Totnan and Kolonat - venerated over six days from October 1-6.

It marks the first time the relics will have left Germany in 1,300 years.

From October 1-2 on arrival to Ireland, the relics will remain with the Bishops and senior clerics in Maynooth, before being transported to Cavan on Thursday, October 3, where they will be received by the people of Mullagh parish at 8pm at St Kilian’s Well.

The historic occasion will also see the welcome of pilgrims from the diocese of Würzburg, which each year celebrates the city’s Catholic heritage that started with St Kilian’s arrival circa 686 AD.

People are welcome to join in the procession from Mullagh Lake, and parking is available at St Kilian’s Church, with a shuttle available to bring people to the lake from 7:15pm.

A liturgy, attended by the Bishop of Kilmore Martin Hayes, will take place at the local church dedicated to St Kilian's legacy, followed by an all-night prayer vigil.

On Friday, October 4, a Dawn Mass will take place from 7am, and the church will remain open during the day for veneration until 6:30pm.

From 8-9pm a free evening concert at St Kilian’s Church in Mullagh coincides with the official launch of the new hymn for St Kilian, written and composed by multi platinum, Irish, singer-songwriter Fr Liam Lawton.

Saturday, October 5, will see a Community Procession of the relics from Edwin Carolan Park to St Kilian’s Church by parish clubs, groups and organisations. Starting at 10:45am, the public are invited to gather on Main Street and Virginia Road and follow the procession to the church where at 12 noon a Commemorative Mass will be celebrated for invited guests and pilgrims from the diocese of Wurzburg.

This Mass will be screened in an adjacent marquee as in Cross Church to enable everybody’s participation. Those in cars in Mullagh can tune in to 87.6FM to hear the broadcast or watch online.

This will be followed by refreshments at The Old School from 1:30pm, before the relics are venerated in St Mary’s Church in nearby Cross from 3:30pm.

Afterwards the reliquary will make its way to Cavan Town via Virginia, Lavey, and Killygarry, where from 5:30pm the relics will be welcomed at the Cathedral of Ss Patrick & Felim Cavan.

A diocesan youth celebration of Mass titled 'Sailing with St Kilian' begins at 7:30pm; and the cathedral will remain open for the veneration of the relics until 10pm.

Sunday, October 6, will see the visitation of the sacred relics conclude with a Mass of Thanksgiving from 10am.

Cllr Shane P. O'Reilly, chair of the Diocesan Organising Committee, and of the Ballyjamesduff MD for the year, says “excitement is building” in the parishes of Mullagh and Cross.

He praised the input of local parish priest Paul Prior, noting “a lot of people have put a lot of work, time and effort” into ensuring the safe visit of the relics to Cavan, and the safety of thousands expected to flock to Cavan in adoration.

“All systems are go,” he says, adding that Monsignor Jürgen Vorndran and Matthias Fleckenstein, chairman of the German-Irish Society, visited Mullagh, Maynooth and Cavan only last week to “firm up final details” on the Irish side ahead of their pilgrimage trip.

Cllr O'Reilly went on to state that the first week in October will be both “historic and momentous” for the people of Mullagh, Cross and the Diocese of Kilmore.

The connections between the Dioceses in Kilmore and Würzburg in more recent times have been strengthened arising from the first official pilgrimage in 1987. It was followed by a joint pilgrimage of the Archdiocese of Armagh and the Diocese of Kilmore to Würzburg in 1989 led by Cardinal Tomás O’Fiach and Bishop Francis McKiernan, and a return visit by the Bishop Bauer of Würzburg later that year.

Since then, exchange visits have regularly taken place thanks to the St Kilian’s Heritage Trust in Mullagh, and with the support of Cavan County Council, the Diocese and city of Würzburg.

“We are looking forward to welcoming Bishop Franz Jung of Würzburg and pilgrims from Germany, from all over Ireland, and even further afield. It's been 1,300 years since St Kilian was back in his own parish, so on Thursday night especially we're expecting a sizeable crowd in attendance to witness the relics enter the church dedicated to his name. It will be a very emotional time for a lot of people, myself included. I've been working on this for almost 10 years. It means a great deal to local people to see this happen in their lifetime.”

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Kilmore meanwhile encouraged people intending to visit the relics to take note of the schedule.

They also thanked the ongoing work and communication between the council and emergency services including An Garda Siochana for their input and support, as well as to the steering committees for their continued dedication.

Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D. Higgins has been invited to attend proceedings.

An Taoiseach Simon Harris has confirmed he will not be present. His son's name is Cillian.

Ambassadors from various countries including Germany have also been invited to attend one or more events over the six days.

This year Kilmore Diocese celebrates its 100th anniversary.