8 DUNDRUM GAZETTE 29 September 2011
COMMUNITY Celebrating the joyous 150-year anniversary of
President McAleese, and her husband, Dr Martin McAleese, were given a very warm reception at the church
President attends Holy Cross event OLY Cross Parish Church had a week to remember when it hosted President Mary McAleese, Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin and the arrival of the Eucharistic Holy Bell. Accompanied by her husband, Dr Martin McAleese, President McAleese was in attendance to help celebrate the sesquicentennial – or 150th anniversary – of the Sisters of the Notre Dame Des Missions Order at the church on Saturday, September17. She was greeted warmly by Archbishop Martin, while a guard of honour was formed for her by several
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smartly-presented students from Notre Dame. Following the anniversary Mass, at which President McAleese delivered the First Reading of the Liturgy, she met and greeted many of the parishioners and clergy outside. A reception was then held at the Notre Dame Des Missions’ school, where the special guests and parishioners were entertained by an orchestral mini-string quartet, comprising schoolgirl musicians from the school, and led by Mary O’Reilly. It was a solemn, yet very positive, event for the whole community to celebrate.
The Notre Dame schoolgirls looked very posed as they stood to attention , ready to
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Gabriel Corcoran, first of ordained deacons and Fr Happy to meet President McAleese
Kieran McDermott
The President gave the first reading of the liturgy
President McAleese was given a great welcome by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin
The girls of Notre Dame were delighted to form a guard of honour for the event’s esteemed guests