The President of St Patrick’s College, Professor Michael Mullaney, and the Rector of the National Seminary, Fr Tomás Surlis, were delighted to warmly welcome the relics of St Kilian and his companions on their return to Ireland after some 1300 years! The relics were solemnly processed through St Joseph's Square into the College Chapel for sung Vespers. In attendance were members of the College Community, together with the Archbishop of Dublin, Most. Rev. Dermot Farrell; the Bishop of Kilmore, Most Rev. Martin Hayes; members of the Irish Episcopal Conference; pilgrims from the Diocese of Würzburg with their Bishop, Most Reverend Franz Jung; friends and benefactors of the College. Also in attendance were Father Paul Prior and members of the parish community of Mullagh, Co. Cavan, the birthplace of St Kilian and of the late and fondly-remembered Professor of Homiletics here, Fr Ronan Drury, who composed the beautiful prayer to St Kilian which was prayed in St Joseph’s Square before processing the revered relics to the College Chapel.
It was an occasion of great joy for the College Community and a tremendous honour for us to welcome St Kilian back to Irish soil for the first time since he left Ireland to preach the Gospel to the Frankish peoples 1300 years ago. As we walked together into the iconic College Chapel, we heard the strains of an ancient Irish prayer of welcome: Fáilte roimh theachtairí Chríost. A welcome to Christ’s messengers. It was indeed a special favour, a reason for delight and a cause of consolation for us and for our wellbeing, that the messengers of Christ had come amongst us. We are most grateful to the Bishop, Priests, Deacons, Seminarians and lay faithful of the Diocese of Wurzburg for including St Patrick’s College, Maynooth in their pilgrimage itinerary here in the land of Kilian’s birth. His presence amongst us reminded us of the mission of this National Seminary and Pontifical University to educate and form priests, teachers, lay leaders and ministers after the heart of Christ the Good Shepherd, for the field of mission in Ireland and across the globe – a mission that we re-affirmed and committed ourselves to afresh, as we raised our hearts and voices to the God who sends us forth in praise and thanksgiving, asking the intercession of Killian, Colonat and Totnan, and placing our trust in the goodness of the Lord and the truth and beauty of the Gospel that inspires us all to share the Good News of salvation with all who have ears to hear.
