INUNDATED: Br Pat Lynch pictured with office administrations Ann-Marie O’Leary and Marguerite Herlihy at the Friary which has been inundated for its services. Photo: Michelle Crean 

By Sean Moriarty

The Franciscan Friary in Killarney is inundated with requests for postal and online Mass offerings. With its office closed to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Brothers and Friars are now providing a Mass card and Mass offering service via email and traditional postal services.

Each day, the Friars broadcast a live Mass at 10am via their social media channels.

Members of the community can order from a range of Mass cards at the Friary Office or send in their own card of choice. Masses are dedicated to the people on the list.

The combined online Mass and card service is uniting the community in an unprecedented fashion. Staff at the Friary office are processing two mail bags everyday – each bag contains at least 80 cards - and are connecting with people all over the county and as far afield as Cork and Limerick.

“We are trying to connect with people. It is our way of giving back to our community,” Br Pat Lynch told the Killarney Advertiser.

Additionally the Friary church remains open for private prayer between 7.45am and 7pm each day.

“A team of volunteers sanitise the church at regular intervals every day,” added Br Pat.

Mass offerings and Mass cards can be arranged by telephone, email or post, between 9.30am – 4pm Monday to Saturday by contacting 064 6631066, killarney@franciscans.ie, or via the postal services to The Franciscan Friary, Killarney.

Mass is celebrated each day on at 10am by searching Killarney Franciscans on Facebook and Masses can be downloaded and viewed at a later time too.