Salve Regina 2026
On the 17 May, our Parish Community gathered in the Church of the Holy Family for a beautiful celebration in honour of Our Blessed Lady during this special Jubilee Year marking 150 years of our church. It was a peaceful and prayerful afternoon filled with faith, reflection, and beautiful music as parishioners, families, and friends came together in the month of Mary.
Readings and reflections from saints, and spiritual writers - including St Maximilian Kolbe, St Louis de Montfort, St Thérèse of Lisieux and others - invited us to reflect more deeply on the love and example of Our Lady. Different prayers gradually led us towards the prayer of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, helping us place ourselves, our families, and our Parish under her loving care.
The celebration was enriched by beautiful Marian hymns sung by members of our Parish Community, and by young people who sang hymns in Irish and played the Irish flute, bringing great warmth and joy to the afternoon. Hymns from the Italian and Romanian Greek-Catholic traditions, singing by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Sisters, and the gentle harp music and organ accompaniment all added greatly to the beauty of the prayer.
A special word of thanks to Teresa O’Donnell, who organised the event, and for her beautiful harp music, and to Mary for organ accompaniment. We also thank all who participated and shared their gifts so generously throughout the afternoon.
We are especially grateful to the volunteers who helped prepare the church, and the shrine of Our Lady, and the flowers arrangements that added so much beauty and prayerfulness to the celebration.
We were very pleased to welcome Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and Fr Paul Thornton, Parish Priest of Cabra and Cabra West, who joined us for this special gathering. We also thank Deacon Victor Garvin for his presence and service to our Parish.
In the words of the concluding prayer, Fr Cory, reminded us that while our Parish bears the name of the Holy Family, we also remember with gratitude Our Lady, who always accompanies us. Mary reminds us that when we gather together around Christ as His Church, we are truly a family.
Thank you to everyone who helped organise and participate in such a grace-filled celebration.
May Our Blessed Lady continue to guide and protect all our families and Community.
