Address at the Park

Saturday April 9th 2005

Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, Eamonn Walsh, in his address urged those present to help bring people back to the Catholic Church.

Predictions that more than 30,000 people would attend the "Sunset Service of Remembrance" proved over-optimistic as did the measures taken by the Office of Public Works to cater for a crowd of up to 100,000.

More than 40 Gardai were on duty under the control of Chief Supt Joseph McGarty in addition to dozens of Civil Defence members and security guards.

Bitterly cold weather and the live broadcasts from both Rome and Phoenix Park itself contributed to the smaller-than-expected crowd, although some of those who attended did begin to arrive at the Papal Cross as early as four hours before the start of the 6.30pm service.

Many of those who had gathered earlier in the afternoon brought with them bouquets of flowers to add to those already in place on the grass bank sloping below the Cross.

A duo selling photographs of the Pope for ?1 to people arriving in the Park found plenty of takers.

Holy candles sold for ?1 and ?2, as did "roses for the service" at ?1 each.

The Park was closed to traffic until 10pm and during the afternoon Dublin Bus provided a free service from the city centre for those wishing to attend.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was joined by Government chief whip Tom Kitt , Environment Minister Dick Roche, Social and Family Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan and Junior Minister Ivor Callely.

Representing the Church of Ireland was Dean Desmond Harman of Christ Church Cathedral who recited 'The Lord's Prayer', while Vitak Hensel, representing the Polish community in Ireland, recited it in Polish. Also present was Papal Nuncio Giuseppe Lazzarotto.

Among those taking part in the service were the Army No 1 band, singers John Michael Talbot, Liam Lawton and Bernadette Greevy and the Dublin Diocesan Music group.

Mr Ahern, who earlier in the day had attended the Pope's funeral in Rome, described that event as "a great send-off for a great man".

He said the Pope had been not only great servant of the Church but had enormous impact as an international statesman.

Bishop Walsh, in his address, said the Catholics of today were a privileged generation to have lived through Pope John Paul's papacy, adding that the events of the past week had given the faithful a clear set of signposts for the future.

He pointed to contrasts from the time the Pope had visited Ireland: "In our new-found wealth, we are struggling to handle it. Excesses often displace temperance, self-gratification displacing the needs of others and sometimes smothering generosity."

However, he said, the Irish response during Lent to the Tsunami appeal had shown how people are "innately generous",

In a personal plea to those attending yesterday's Sunset Service of Remembrance, Bishop Walsh said: "Each week, take a phrase from the Gospels and pray it each day for the week.

"In that way, we will gradually stand in the footsteps of Jesus and take our direction from Jesus. And he added: "Each year bring one person back to their Church."

Bishop Walsh said that, rather than look nostalgically back at his life, Catholics should follow his example and teachings "and get renewed inspiration and direction in our daily struggle to live as Christians".

He said the Pope had challenged people to look beyond the world of appearances and see the inner beauty and dignity "inherent in every person" and he had held this vision firmly, not only when he faced his would-be assassin but also men of violence.

RTE broadcaster Joe Duffy recalled how he had been asked to speak at the Papal Mass in Galway in September 1979, a day he described as having a "sense of youthfulness, excitement and community and hope" and a time when it was "great to be a young person in Ireland".

But he added: "In the quarter-century that has passed, many of us have questioned the church. We all know people have been hurt, sometimes asking the harrowing question 'does the church and religion make me feel less human rather than more human?'

"And at times during the church's difficulties the answer to that question was not always as obvious as it is this week." Eugene Moloney

? Irish Independent