Diocesan News16 Mar 12

‘Join us for St Patrick’s Day 2012’ says Bishop Miller (Down & Dromore)

The Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Rt Revd Harold Miller, warmly invites you to join him and other pilgrims for the diocese’s annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations at Saul and Down Cathedral.

This year the theme is ‘Walking in Simplicity’ and the special guest and preacher is Mr Pete Greig, founder of the 24-7 Prayer movement and Director of Prayer at Holy Trinity Brompton. St Patrick’s Day also marks the beginning of the ‘Wear it Out’ campaign – a clothing fast which is an initiative of Summer Madness with Tearfund.

The event, which gathers hundreds of visitors, from Ireland and abroad, begins with a service of Holy Communion at Saul Church, followed by a pilgrimage to Down Cathedral and the Festival Service. After the service, a wreath is laid at St Patrick’s grave by local ministers of all denominations before lunch is served to invited guests in the Cathedral grounds.

Timetable

• 9.15am Holy Communion at Saul
  (Preacher: Mr Pete Greig, founder of 24/7 Prayer)
• 10.15am Pilgrimage from Saul to Downpatrick
• 11.45am Festival Service in Down Cathedral
  (Speaker: Pete Greig)
• Wreath laying ceremony at St Patrick’s Grave
• 1.00pm Irish stew lunch in the marquee

Transport to Saul
Please park along the Mall leading to the Cathedral in Downpatrick and board one of the private buses.

Buses to the communion service depart between 8.30 and 9.00am. The last bus for the 35 minute pilgrimage leaves at 10.00am.