Hibernian Square Garden

AOH

AOH

By Ray O’Hanlon
rohanlon@itishecho.com

Members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians will be playing their part in the historic papal Mass set for this Friday at Madison Square Garden.

Over 50 members of the order will be in the Garden to help with crowd control and the distribution of Holy Communion.

“We will be helping people to their seats and to move around the Garden. Our members are very excited about it, said Tom Beirne who is organizing the Hibernian call-up for the historic first ever visit by Pope Francis to New York.

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“There will be people from other organizations, but ours will be distinguishable because I’ve asked them to wear their sashes, said Beirne.

The Mass will come on the second day of the pope’s visit to the city which follows his visit to Washington, D.C. and precedes his visit to Philadelphia.

On his arrival in the city Thursday, Francis will attend a prayer service at St. Patrick’s cathedral.

The pope will also be attending the UN seventieth anniversary summit of world leaders, will be at a multi-religious service at the 9/11 Memorial Museum, will visit a school, Our Lady Queen of Angels in East Harlem and will lead a procession through Central Park.

At the Garden Mass, the chair Francis will sit on was built by mostly immigrant day laborers while the altar will be the work of young men at Lincoln Hall Boys Haven in Lincolndale, NY.

“This will be an extraordinary event and will ensure great memories for our members. The Hibernians are proud to help,” said Tom Beirne of the Friday Mass.

 

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