Thanksgiving Mass this Sunday as Franciscans depart from Athlone

The Franciscan order, which has had a presence in Athlone for centuries, is currently departing from the town and a Mass of thanksgiving for its involvement locally will be celebrated this Sunday, January 8, at 11am.

The provincial of the Franciscans in Ireland, Fr Aidan McGrath, will be the chief celebrant on Sunday, and locals will be invited to come in for a cup of tea and a chat after the service in the Friary.

Those who are unable to attend the service in person will have the option of viewing a live stream of it here.

The departure of the Franciscans from Athlone was announced in October, and was greeted with immense sadness in the town and beyond. The remaining friars here have been preparing for their moves to Multyfarnham, Galway, Ennis, and Merchant's Quay in Dublin.

Fr Gabriel Kinahan, Guardian of the Franciscan community in Athlone, said that the Friary church would not be closing for at least five or six months, as there had been a successful voluntary effort to ensure it would be kept open to the public throughout the first half of this year.

A meeting of volunteers interested in helping out with the running of the Friary church, and functions such as opening and closing it each day, attracted approximately 70 people on Wednesday evening.

Fr Gabriel said he was surprised by the turnout at Wednesday's meeting, and by the number of people who were "keen to lend a hand and to help ensure that the place can keep functioning".

* For more, see next Wednesday’s Westmeath Independent