What Parishes' have said

What Parishes' have said ...

Fr. John Keane, Fr. Jim Kennelly and Fr. Patrick Cahill

Boherbue- Kiskeam

Parish, Mallow Co.Cork

8 - 23 October 2016

"I really can't express my appreciation and thanks to the members of the Ceili community who graced our parish for 2 weeks. It was an extremely beneficial time and if nothing else the goodwill it generated around the place was great. There was a significant increase at the Masses last weekend and please God that will continue."
Fr. Jim Kennelly Parish Priest

St. Patrick's -Downpatrick Parish

September 9th - October 2nd 2016

"The Ceili community has certainly touched us in these last three weeks with their smiles and enthusiasm,with their energy and faith,with their generosity and commitment. But remember Mattie’s last comment at the 12.00 Mass on Sunday 2nd ? ‘It’s time to come down from the stands and on to the pitch.’! " Fr. John Murray St. Patrick's - Downpatrick Parish

Cleenish Parish

Arney, Belcoo & Mullaghdun

May- June 2016

“Grateful thanks to all the Céilí Team for the fortnight of a lifetime”.

Rev. Fr. Seamus Quinn, P.P Cleenish Parish

"In my 53 years of priesthood, I have not experienced a parish mission as good as this one. It was deeply spiritual, deeply prayerful, and so uplifting for us all. Thank you Fr. John, Fr. Patrick, and the whole Céilí Team"

Fr. John Finnegan
PE Arney Cleenish Parish

Maghera Parish Mission

May 2016

"We have a great community spirit in our Parish anyway but this mission delivered by the Céilí Community has really put a spring in our step. I have heard nothing but praise from the parishioners. Everybody appears to have got a lift from it.”

Fr. Paddy Doherty

Frs Andrew and Pat, Carmelite Priests with Céilí priest Fr. Patrick

St. Joseph's Parish, Berkeley Road,

Dublin 7
April 2016

Fr. David Donnellan

“The Mission was an uplifting and inspiring experience in our parish and its benefits will be felt for years to come. To all the members of the Céilí Community I give sincere thanks and grateful appreciation for the wonderful Parish Mission. May the Lord continue to bless you all and your ministry.”

Fr. David Donnellan OCD, P.P The Carmelite Community and the Parishioners of the St. Joseph's.

Alice Higgins

"What an example the Céilí community has been to this parish with their joyful enthusiasm in proclaiming the Word of God and His mercy. Their presence among us was a gift of grace from God to each one in this parish."

Alice Higgins, Overall Coordinator for St. Joseph's Parish Mission

Some of Céilí members evangelising at the Dart Station

St. Anne's Parish, Portmarnock, Co Dublin
February - March 2016
The following are some of the comments made by parishioners:
"The joy of the Céilí community was very evident and deeply appreciated"
"The buzz in the parish was great"       "I wish they could have stayed longer"    "Best Ever"
"I found a loving father"    "Eucharistic Blessings were received in abundance"
" Thank you for visiting my home and giving me a house blessing" " A wonderful Mission"
" The mission was fantastic and very inclusive"   " I miss them already!"

Holy Family Parish, Derry City
February 2016

Fr Paddy O’Kane PP Holy Family Parish Derry

“My family and I would like to thank you for all your brilliant work you all have done and are doing. Just last week the mission visited our parish of Holy Family, Derry.

My family truly loved and enjoyed every mass and service you all gave to us. My two boys are pupils at our local school and took part in the most beautiful prayers and lovely singing at school and in the Church. The cd is on repeat in our home.

The community members who delivered their time and effort were so brilliant from the morning parent prayers to the work they did with all the children. We also had a visit from one of the community priests at our home to see my mother and gave a beautiful blessing with anointing.

I cannot explain how much joy and peace it brought to myself. It truly has brought me closer to my faith and my family.The mission was so energetic......Mass was always big in our house from kids to when I was a young teenager.

So thank you for everything you are all doing it really does make a difference. Please keep our family in your prayers and we will too”.

From a grateful parishioner of Holy Family Parish Derry.

Courceys Parish, Ballinspittle Co Cork
November 2015

“The visitation of each home was essential to this mission. It set the tone for everything else. I have not had one negative comment about the mission. It was great to see a full church without it being a funeral. Céilí preached the mission out of a deep prayer life”.
Fr Michael O’ Mahony PP

Fr Michael O Mahony PP

Mullagh, Co. Cavan
October 2015

Fr Gilhooly PP with some members of the Céilí Community visitation team.

“Our mission went very well. However our preached mission week was very difficult because of the tragic death of one of our younger parishioners. Nevertheless there was great co-operation from different parish groups and people were very welcoming and open. The mission in our schools created a great buzz and enthusiasm.” Fr John Gilhooly PP.

Birr, Co. Offaly
September- October 2015

The last two weeks have been a great blessing to this parish. The mission captured what was preached - “a new joy”. The witness of “The Joy of the Gospel” was infectious. Great mission - great turnout and great feedback.

Fr. David Carroll PP & Fr. Michael Reddan SVD.

Fr David Caroll PP and Fr Michael Reddan SVD

Holy Family Parish, Belfast
May 2015

Fr Paul Strain PP and Canon Brendan Murray PE

“The mission was an inspiring and spiritually refreshing two week. All areas of the parish were covered and we pray that the blessings we have shared will renew and strengthen us as we try to live out the Beatitudes in our daily lives and in the parish”
Fr Paul Strain PP

Kilbride, Co Roscommon
April-May 2015

We had a great mission in Kilbride Parish Co Roscommon which incorporated our schools, door to door visitation, youth outreach, sick visitation, individual prayer ministry, holy hours, after mass testimonies, training for our parish readers and of course our preached mission week in both Churches. Céilí Community brought the Gospel to our parish in a new and refreshing way – “The Joy of the Gospel”.
Fr Raymond Browne PP

Fr Raymond Browne PP Kilbride

Trim, Co Meath
March 2015

Fr Sean Henry PP Trim

“The mission exceeded all my expectation. It brought joy and a great buzz to the parish. I would recommend Céilí to any parish.” Fr Sean Henry PP Trim Co. Meath.

“I was very happy to hear feedback from parishioners who had not been to Mass for a long time. The mission brought them back and helped to give them a good positive experience”.

Fr Declan Kelly CC Trim. Co. Meath

Fr Declan Kelly CC Trim

Killashee, Co Longford
Febuary- March 2015

Fr Nigel Charles PP Killashee Co. Longford

"Our parish was greatly blessed by the presence of Céilí Community and I pray God's blessing on all as you continue His work."

-Fr Nigel Charles P.P

MILFORD,TULLYLEASE, FREEMOUNT, Co Cork
November 2014

"We had a very positive two week mission. The theme of the mission was based on Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium {Joy of the Gospel 2013}. The planning was so important and involved numerous people especially the parish pastoral council. We had great cooperation from all the parishioners. The attendance at the preached services was tremendous in all three churches. The inclusion of door to door visitation and the schools was very positive. Great success."

Rev. Fr. Padraig Keogh. P.P. Milford, Charleville, Co. Cork.

“During the 18-month mission planning stage, parishioners doubted the reasons for having a 2-week mission and particularly questioned the value of the mission team visiting every home in the parish with a personal invitation to the preached week in all our three churches. Their answer came when they saw the buzz that the visitation created and how it helped the missioners and parishioners to bond and work together In harmony. We were really up for the second week and the preaching. For me, the great surprise came on the Wednesday evening at the reconciliation ceremony when I saw the number of people going to confession exceed anything I have seen in over 30 years in the parish”.

Mr. P. J. Sullivan, Overall Parish Coordinator

EDENDERRY, Co Offaly
October 2014

Some Ceili members and a parishioner outside the prayer room.

"Céilí Community gave a very successful mission in our parish. Because of the size of the parish we needed a three week mission so as to successfully complete the outreach to all our schools. The mission was organised meticulously which was evident in the smooth running of all events. One novel aspect to this mission was the “prayer room” which was set up in a shop in the middle of the town. 300+ people popped in to pray and light a candle. I would highly recommend Ceili for their work, enthusiasm and zeal for the Gospel."
Fr P.J. McEvoy PP Edenderry Co. Offaly

KILMACRENAN, Co Donegal
May 2014

Fr. Paddy Dunne PP. with some altar servers

There was some apprehension to this style of mission prior to it happening. However, this all dissipated very quickly as soon as Céilí Community engaged with the parish and schools. We had the theme of “Refreshment” for our mission and it has been one of transformation; bringing people closer to God in an uplifting way. So much so that after one of the evening celebrations a lady came to me wanting to become a Catholic. The mission culminated in our First Holy Communion Celebrations for the parish which was a fitting way to finish this “Mission of Refreshment”.

Fr Paddy Dunne

Boyle, Co. Roscommon
March 2014

Fr. Gerry Hanly PP

“The mission created a great buzz and life around the parish. It drew many people together to work and enjoy it both in the preparation and the mission event. The work in the schools and the presentation in church were among the highlights. The mission brought in a few parishioners who were on the periphery. The feedback from people has been very positive”.

Fr Gerry Hanly PP & Fr Donal Morris CC

Fr. Donal Morris CC

Elphin, Co. Roscommon
October 2013

Fr. J.J. Gannon, P.P.

"Sincere thanks to all concerned for a memorable and fruitful Mission. The sheer professionalism of all the team, right from the opening Sunday evening was an eye opener for all of us as the Visitation Team moved from door to door, ultimately finding more homes than we thought existed.

The dedication of the Team during the second week was most edifying. Amazing results were achieved in the National Schools, as indeed was the case in the first week with the pupils in the Community College. It all made for a memorable and rewarding week.

The simple preaching technique adopted by both preachers was refreshing because they spoke from the “university of experience.” I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience."

Fr. J.J. Gannon, P.P.

St. Patrick's, Chapel Street, Elphin,
County Roscommon

Fr. Tighe, C.C.

Ferbane, Co. Offaly
September 2013

Fr Tom Cox at lecturn
Clonmacnoise

Mission Feedback ...

"Mission gave me a handle on understanding culture today"
"healing was beautiful"
"Mission brought ongoing work in our schools to light"
"more please!"

Fr Tom Cox, Fr Pat Lynch,
Fr Frankie Murray and Fr John Keane

Parish of Pomeroy Co Tyrone

Fr David Moore, PP, Pomeroy and
Mrs Dympna Lagan, Mission Coordinator

“To our parish this mission was so faith filled, refreshing and enjoyable. It involved all aspects of parish life, visitation, school, youth and church.

It has left us with a much deeper faith, renewed awareness of the sacrament of reconciliation and the importance of dialogue with all we meet.

To see a packed church each day was so uplifting – it did your heart good.

Thank you Céilí”.
Fr David Moore PP Pomeroy
May 2013

Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny

Fr Peter Muldowney, P.P.

“We had a very life giving inspirational and prayer filled mission in Mooncoin. It created a genuine interest in the Church with an atmosphere of support and welcome. It was inclusive of all parish areas, home visitation, schools, visitation of our sick and housebound, hospitals and nursing homes. It fostered a great sense of community and belonging”.

Fr Peter Muldowney, P.P.
April 2013

Adamstown, Newbawn Raheen, Co. Wexford

Fr Robert Nolan PP and Fr Jim Furlong PP

"Magic mission. There was a great spirit of exuberance during the two weeks of mission. It cemented the great belonging among the parishioners. The Céilí Community worked extremely hard. The mission was almost like a carnival.”

February 2013

School Banner

Derriaghy Lisburn Co Antrim

"We had a very comprehensive mission in this Year of Faith, entitled “Time for Me Time for God”, which was geared to our busy city parish life. It had a most necessary trust based on ‘The New Evangelisation’ which was both catechetical and pastoral. The door to door visitation and primary school, outreach brought the whole community together, especially those who do not come to church regularly. The parishioners who attended the preached mission had the opportunity to express their faith and receive clarification on it”.

Fr Paul Byrne P.P.
May 2013

Ligoniel, Belfast

Céilí Mission...Blessed,

Saint Vincent De Paul Parish
Ligoniel North Belfast

The Beatitudes was the theme of our Two week mission here in Saint Vincent De Paul Parish, Ligoniel North Belfast.

On reflection I might use this single word to describe our parish mission, “Blessed”.

We were blessed by the presence of the Céilí Community.

We were blessed by the Pastoral, Spiritual and Educational dimensions of the Céilí Program.

We were blessed by the generous response from the parishioners, old and young alike.

We were NOT blessed with the unseasonal weather during the last few days of the mission!!!

You are very welcome to visit our Parish Mission Page on the website for day to day highlights.

Fr Patrick Devlin PP
Saint Vincent de Paul Parish
Ligoniel North Belfast
March 2013

Mitchelstown, Co. Cork

Fr Michael Fitzgerald & Fr Patrick Cahill

Fr Michael Fitzgerald, PP

“The Céilí Mission to our parish was inclusive of all areas of parish life. The mission reached the whole parish with large attendance at all the mission celebrations. It has left the parish with a very positive faith experience of God. The mission built upon what we are trying to do as parish. It brought a joy and affirmation to us. Our parishioners were touched by the witness of the priests, religious and lay members of the Céilí Community”.
November 2012

Church of Our Lady
Conceived without sin

Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim

St Clare's Chapel, Manorhamilton

Fr John and Fr Oliver ...

“Our mission in Manorhamilton created great excitement and interest. It covered all areas of parish life, visitation of all homes {1018}, missions to our 3 primary schools, gael scoil, comprehensive school and a wonderful preached mission week in all three churches. It has given great life to our parish and has brought to the fore gifts and skills in our own parishioners.”

September 2012

Cathedral Church of St. Mel, Longford

Priests of Longford Cathedral

    "A Mission well prepared, well
      organised,  relevant and
      entertaining”.

Fr. Tony Devlin P.P.
St Paul's
Falls Road, Belfast

"Down to earth Mission with fantastic work done by the Door-to Door Visitation Team. Good content during the Preached Mission week with excellent handout after each session - tremendous help given to people through the Prayer Ministry”."

Holy Cross Church
Railway Road, Kenmare, Co.

Canon Tom Crean P.P.
Kenmare, Co. Kerry

"“The Priest, Sisters and Parish Pastoral Council were fulsome in their praise for your work. No negative vibes at all. It is satisfying to hear good news in troubled times”."

Fr John Nally P.P. Ballynacargy, Mullingar

Ballynacargy Church

Ballynacargy Church
Inside view

“I have been out and about since the Mission ended and heard nothing but praise for the Preached Mission in the Churches and the catechising in the Schools by the school mission team”

Fr. Vincent Connaughton P.P.
Killenummery, Co. Leitrim

"“A most professional approach to Mission in its preparation and execution. The congregation were held by the themes. The Missions to our schools were vital for this area”."