Life

Holy Family icon in Downpatrick ahead of WMOF

The World Meeting of Families icon, pictured here on an earlier visit to Holy Family Church in north Belfast, is visiting every diocese in Ireland ahead of the August event. Picture by Mal McCann
The World Meeting of Families icon, pictured here on an earlier visit to Holy Family Church in north Belfast, is visiting every diocese in Ireland ahead of the August event. Picture by Mal McCann The World Meeting of Families icon, pictured here on an earlier visit to Holy Family Church in north Belfast, is visiting every diocese in Ireland ahead of the August event. Picture by Mal McCann

THE official World Meeting of Families icon has been making its way around Ireland, with the Diocese of Down and Connor on the itinerary this week.

It has already been in Glenravel and from today until Saturday it will be in the Downpatrick Pastoral Community area.

A series of events - beginning with Mass at 7.30pm - have been planned for the icon's three days in St Patrick's Church in Downpatrick, with parishioners from the 10 parishes in the pastoral community area coming together in preparation for August's World Meeting of Families in Dublin.

Tomorrow there will be opportunities for reflection, veneration and prayer throughout the day. On Saturday, there will be morning prayer and a time for family Rosary.

Downpatrick Pastoral Community is sending five buses of parishioners to attend the open air Mass to be celebrated by Pope Francis in Phoenix Park on August 26.

On Saturday, after concelebrated Mass at 10am, the icon moves from one St Patrick's Church to another, as the icon is brought from Downpatrick to Donegall Street in Belfast.

The WMOF icon will be in Belfast until Monday June 26.

  • Details of the timing of WMOF Holy Family icon events in Downpatrick at www.parishofdownpatrick.com. Information about the World Meeting of Families can be found here.
  • If you are involved in a WMOF event, email w.scholes@irishnews.com