Sacred Heart statue, blessed by Pope, to arrive in Letterkenny on Friday

A pilgrim Sacred Heart statue, one of only four in the world blessed by Pope Francis, will arrive at St Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny on Friday evening.

A special Mass of the Sacred Heart will be celebrated at 7pm to mark this occasion.

The statue will then continue its journey to other parishes in the Raphoe Diocese as part of the Jubilee Year celebrations. 

Fr Shane Gallagher, a native of Ballybofey who is the chaplain at Letterkenny University Hospital was among a delegation present for the blessing of the four statues at the Vatican.

He was joined by  Fr John Mockler (Limerick), Fr Shane Sullivan (Apostolic Society of the Most Holy Trinity) and Dom Basil Mary McCabe (Silverstream Priory).

The 88-year-old pontiff welcomed the Irish quartet with the statues to travel in an attempt to revitalise the faith for the 350th anniversary of the apparitions of the Sacred Heart.

Jubilee Year 2025 will be marked by numerous spiritual events and activities at parish, diocesan, and national levels, including: pilgrimages to local and national shrines; monthly parish initiatives promoting prayer and reflection; and celebrations of key anniversaries, including the 400th anniversary of Saint Oliver Plunkett’s birth, and the centenary of Venerable Matt Talbot’s death.

Read next: 'You're the highlights': Patsy McGonagle tells Finn Valley AC stars of the future

Pope Francis has described the Jubilee Year as “a time to rediscover the beauty of communion with God and with one another, a moment to open our hearts to the transforming power of grace, and to walk together as people of hope”.