Cathedral News

The full results of the Cathedral survey conducted a number of months ago are now available for download.

The annual Solemn Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help begins on Monday 6 February 2012, and runs until Tuesday 14 February. The theme of this year's novena is Eucharist, food for life. There are six sessions each day, as follows: Monday-Saturday: 07:45, 11:00, 13:10, 15:30, 19:30, 21:30 Sunday: 09:00, 10:30, 12:30, 16:30, 18:30, 20:15 The preachers at the novena this year are Séamus Enright CSsR, Brendan Keane CSsR and Derek Ryan CSsR.

Thursday 8 December 2011 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, as well as the traditional start of the run-up to Christmas. Mass in the Cathedral will be celebrated on Wednesday 7 December at 18:00, and on Thursday 8 December at 09:00, 11:00 and 18:00. In addition, a vigil of prayer for the feast will take place on Wednesday 7 December; it begins at 18:45 and concludes with benediction at 20:00, and will include prayers for vocations.

Christmas is one of the most joyful seasons of the church year, and is celebrated in the Cathedral with appropriate solemnity. Here are details of the various events taking place at this time.

Special services of remembrance will take place in the Cathedral on the four Mondays of November - 7, 14, 21 and 28 November - beginning at 20:00 on each of those evenings. These services will afford an opportunity to cherish the memories of our deceased loved ones with prayer, reflection and music. The regular Monday novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help will not take place on those evenings; novena prayers will be recited at the 18:00 mass instead.

The Cathedral Pastoral Committee is conducting a survey with a view to identifying the pastoral needs of all those who worship at the Cathedral. The survey takes the form of a questionnaire, which can be downloaded from here. We would very much appreciate your taking the time to fill out the survey and return it to the Cathedral before 31 October 2011 - thank you in advance for your help.

The Rosary will be recited by candlelight each Sunday evening during October, beginning at 19:00. All are welcome. Benediction does not take place on these Sundays.

Monday 15 August 2011 is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a holy day of obligation. It is also an important feast in Galway Cathedral - Our Lady Assumed into Heaven is one of the two dedicatees of the Cathedral, and the Cathedral was dedicated on 15 August 1965.

The bell of the Eucharistic Congress 2012 will arrive at the Cathedral at 11:00 on Friday 8 July, and will be received by Bishop Martin Drennan. Full details of the Eucharistic Congress at http://www.iec2012.ie.

7 July 2011 - 11 August 2011 :: Thursdays at 20:00 http://recitals.galwaycathedral.ie Galway Cathedral Recitals is one of Ireland's premier summer concert series. Running over six Thursdays in July and August each year, it attracts performers from all over Europe as well as Asia and the USA. An evening of sublime music in the inspiring surroundings of Galway's stone Cathedral is an experience not to be missed.