Courtmacsherry and Barryroe Churches welcomed Bishop Fintan Gavin on Sunday 13 September.
Bishop Fintan concelebrated Mass at the two churches with parish priest Father Dave O’Connell.
The Bishop recalled the privilege of meeting Cardinal Văn Thuận.
Targeted for his faith, Thuận was imprisoned by the communist government of Vietnam for 13 years, nine in solitary confinement. Yet he was able to forgive his captors saying “If I can’t forgive, I have no business calling myself a Christian”. Bishop Fintan reminded us that Jesus calls us to forgive countless times. We are challenged not to keep track, not to hold on to our anger or resentment, not to look for vengeance or payback. We should forgive the way we are forgiven ourselves.
Watch the recording of the livestream Mass at Barryroe
Here is a two-minute video clip about Cardinal Văn Thuận…
And here are some more pictures of the Mass in both churches...
