REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE DURING HER VISIT TO THE CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE KING
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE DURING HER VISIT TO THE CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE KING MULLINGAR, CO. WESTMEATH ON TUESDAY
I would like to thank you all for a lovely welcome to your Cathedral – the ‘Mother Church of all churches’ in the diocese of Meath – and obviously a place of which you are all proud - especially since the completion of the refurbishment and restoration to its former splendour. I am particularly grateful to Fr. Henry for suggesting that I pay this visit to the Cathedral – and to see the museum - while I am in the precincts. There’s a story about the Washington church, which President Franklin Roosevelt attended – and how the clergyman got a call from someone who wanted to know if he expected the President to be in Church that Sunday. The clergyman cleverly replied that he couldn’t promise that he would – but he assured the caller that “we expect God to be there and we fancy that should be incentive enough for a reasonably large attendance”!
Situated on an imposing site - the Cathedral commands a great view over the town – as you would expect for a building of such importance – and is a constant reminder to visitor and resident of the importance of the Cathedral to the people of Mullingar – and indeed to the people of the diocese. I really don’t know if there’s any significance in the fact that - it was originally consecrated on the day that Britain declared war on Germany - in 1939 – but in the years since then – it has seen many a marching foot go up and down its aisles – as the people of the diocese sought refuge and tranquility – and peace with God - in the turmoil of their daily lives.
Such was the volume of traffic - and wear and tear on the Cathedral – that in its Jubilee year - it was decided to completely renovate the building. The work was extensive – and the fact that it was finished ahead of schedule is a great credit to the people and priests of the diocese. Looking around me today, I can see that the one and a half million pounds was very well spent. Speaking of renovation and renewal – I am reminded of the story about the Church that had a new pulpit installed – and how the Parish Priest and the Sacristan decided to test it out for acoustics. The PP climbed up into his new pulpit and asked the Sacristan to stand at the back of the Church while he read a little piece from the Bible. “How does that sound”, asked the PP. “That’s fine,” says the Sacristan. So the PP invited him to go into the pulpit and “say anything you like”. The Sacristan climbs up – and in full voice declares - “I haven’t had a pay rise in three years . . . how does that sound?”.
This Cathedral, like all churches is first and foremost a place of prayer, a place where people acknowledge God’s place in their lives and their membership of the common human family. In these last days before the referendum on May 22nd I am reminded of the words of UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan when he returned from Iraq recently: “Never underestimate the power of prayer”. I am sure that prayer will be at work here and across the land as people face serious choices about the future of Ireland and Europe, choices they cannot leave to their neighbours and strangers but choices we each need to make for ourselves.
For me – on my first visit to Mullingar as President – it is a welcome opportunity to seek a little refuge in this fine building – and to meet you the people who use it as your place of worship. You have a fine Cathedral here in Mullingar – and one that has served you well. It is certainly a far cry from the drying room of the local tannery – which served as a place of worship in the years immediately after the reformation. I hope that – with its renewed roof and other renovations – it will last for many generations of people in the diocese of Meath.