His Eminence Cardinal Seán Brady Unveils Memorial Statue of Servant of God Fr. Patrick Peyton CSC

His Eminence Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland led celebrations to mark the unveiling of a seven foot bronze statue of Servant of God Fr. Patrick Peyton CSC, "The Rosary Priest", at the Fr Peyton Memorial Centre, Attymass on Sunday the 26th April. He was joined by the Bishop of Aconry, the Most Rev. Brendan Kelly, Fr Hugh Cleary CSC, Superior General of the Holy Cross Congregation from the US and numerous other dignitaries and members of the Holy Cross Congregation from around the world. The statue, the work of Filipino painter and sculptor Joey Velasco who flew in for the occasion, has been erected as part of ongoing celebrations to mark the centenary of Attymass native Fr. Peyton's birth.

At the unveiling
Front: sculptor Joey Velasco & wife Queeny. Fr Peyton's nephew Cannon Padraig Peyton,
His Eminence Cardinal Seán Brady, Tommy Peyton.

Prior to the ceremony Mass was held in St Joseph's Parish Church, full to bursting point, where Fr Peyton was baptised 100 years ago. In his Homily Cardinal Brady referred to Fr Peyton's famous sayings:

"In the year 2002 … Pope John Paul II wrote a letter on the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He said:

'From my youthful years this prayer has held an important place in my life. It has accompanied me in moments of joy and in moments of difficulty. To it I have entrusted any number of concerns; in it I have always found comfort….The Rosary is my favourite prayer…' Pope John Paul went on to say: 'The family that prays together stays together'. I think that we have all heard that somewhere before. This is exactly the message that Father Peyton had been preaching all his life."

The Cardinal then referred to Fr Peyton's use of and understanding of the media; the text below found its way into many international newspapers and internet sites:

"Fr Peyton had a great gift for using the most up-to-date means of social communication. He was pioneering in his use of television to communicate the Gospel and the power of prayer through the Rosary. He attracted the support of many famous film stars along the way. I am sure if there had been mobile phones in his day Fr Peyton would have been big into texting and twitter! He would rejoice in the power of the internet and email to join people together in prayerful solidarity instantaneously and across the world.

In the name of Fr Peyton I would like to make an appeal to every Christian in Ireland today who sends texts, twitters or uses e-mail. I appeal to you to think about setting up groups of prayer between you and your friends using these modern means of communication. I ask young people in particular to think of sending their friends and family an occasional twitter or text to say that you have prayed for them. Make someone the gift of a prayer through text, twitter or e-mail every day. Such a sea of prayer is sure to strengthen our sense of solidarity with one another and remind us those who receive them that others really do care."

Finally the Cardinal summed up Fr Peyton's message:

"The truths taught by the Servant of God, Fr Patrick Peyton, are worth repeating often:

'Prayer works - try it!';

'The family that prays together, stays together' and

'The world that prays is a world at peace!'.

Ireland has every reason to be proud of its world famous but humble countryman who achieved so much good by his life as a priest. Attymass has every reason to be proud of its Servant of God and son of the parish. As we celebrate his memory and unveil the new statue of his image, let us pray that our country will be renewed in faith, hope and love by a return to a culture of prayer and a richer spirit of solidarity with one another."

Transcript of Cardinal Brady's Homily.

About sculptor Joey Velasco.

In the Press.

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