Masses in Navan and Mullingar to mark bishop's 25th anniversary

The Diocese of Meath and local civil authorities will take part in a number of upcoming events to mark the 25th anniversary of Bishop Michael Smith"s episcopal ordination. The principal celebration will be a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, this Sunday, 1st February, at 3pm. Priests and parishioners from across the Diocese of Meath are expected to join in the celebration, together with members of the bishop"s family from his native Oldcastle. The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, and the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, have been invited. Sunday"s liturgy will include people from various aspects of Church life which are part of the bishop"s ministry. The scripture readings will be read by Colm O"Rourke, principal of St Patrick"s Classical School, Navan, and Agatha McPartland, secretary of the Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage, representing Bishop Smith"s commitment to Catholic education and to the care of the sick, respectively. Lucia Cully was the first child to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation from the newly ordained bishop on 5th March 1984 in Kildalkey and she will take part in the prayers of the faithful. Members of the Diocesan Youth Group, who have accompanied Bishop Smith to World Youth Day events abroad, will also have a special presence on the occasion. On the following weekend, Navan parish will host a special celebration to mark bishop"s silver jubilee. Bishop Smith has served as parish priest of Navan since assuming the responsibility from his predecessor, the late Bishop John McCormack. The Jubilee Mass will take place in St Mary"s Church, Navan, on Saturday 7th February at 6pm, after which all are invited to the local community centre where refreshments will be served and parishioners will have an opportunity to meet Bishop Smith. Earlier the same day, the Mayor of Navan, Councillor Padraig Fitzsimons, and the members of Navan Town Council, will host a civic reception at 1pm in the Navan Town Council chamber to mark the occasion. The reception will honour Bishop Smith"s contribution to the civic life of the community. Speaking in advance of the celebrations, Bishop Smith said the decision to become a priest was his own decision and one that he had never regretted making. 'The call to episcopacy is made by others and is primarily a call to total service in a portion of the Lord"s vineyard. I give thanks to God that I have enjoyed both the health and energy to answer his call, with all one"s personal limitations, to be best of my ability over the past 25 years,' he said. Bishop Smith was ordained by Cardinal Tomas O"Fiach at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, on 29th January 1984. The last such celebration of the silver jubilee of a bishop in the diocese was that of Bishop Thomas Nulty in 1891. Coincidentally, both of these bishops were natives of Oldcastle.