• 15 April 2010

President Mary McAleese visits Down Cathedral

dean hull greets the president and mr mcaleese
dean hull greets the president and mr mcaleese
The Dean of Down, Very Revd Henry Hull, has welcomed Irish President, Mary McAleese to Down Cathedral. The Cathedral has thousands of visitors from all around the world and he expressed his delight that she and her husband, Dr Martin McAleese, had found time in their hectic schedule to visit.

The President was escorted by the Lord Lieutenant, Bishop Harold Miller, Dean Hull and the Church Wardens, Joy Wilkinson and Cecil Maxwell. She met the Canons of the Cathedral and Mrs Liz Miller and Mrs Gerry Hull before being seated in the Judge's Box.

Dean Hull formally welcomed the President along with local clergy, Dom Mark Ephrem from Holy Cross Monastery, and some representatives of the Cathedral congregation and local community. He briefly outlined the history and current ministry of the Cathedral which was originally a Benedictine abbey. It sits in an area with an early Celtic monastic history and has very clear associations as the burial place of Patrick.

"However," continued Dean Hull,  "for us this place is not just a tourist attraction but it is a place of pilgrimage and prayer for all people. We are always pleased when people take time to be still and to pray and we promise to remember in our services all those who leave prayer requests.

"One other thing which is very important to us is the ecumenical nature of our ministry. We believe the message about Jesus, brought to this land by Patrick, is a message for everyone. We see the Cathedral as a place for the whole community. We work closely together with all the churches in Downpatrick, evidenced by all my colleagues joining us this morning. and on St Patrick's Day and Christmas Eve this building is at bursting point with folk from all denominations here."

Today the Cathedral has a congregation that worships there Sunday by Sunday and it  hosts major services for the Diocese. It also has strong links with Holy Cross Monastery, Rostrevor, the County Down village where President McAleese spent part of her childhood.

Cathedral organist, Mr Michael McCracken, played a short piece on the Cathedral Organ and then Mrs Joy Wilkinson presented the President with a gift of a History of Down Cathedral and a CD of music recorded there.
 
Bishop Harold Miller addressed the President, saying that she would always be welcome in Down Cathedral, and indeed in any church in the diocese and he extended a warm invitation to the annual St Patrick's Day celebrations. The Bishop also reminded President McAleese that throughout the Church of Ireland in the Republic she is remembered in prayer each week with both respect and affection.

After signing the visitors' book the President went across to St Patrick's Grave where she laid a wreath and participated in a short act of devotion. She and her husband lingered in the bright sunshine, chatting with guests before leaving for their next engagement. 

Click here to view the photo gallery of the President's visit.