His Eminence Keith Patrick Cardinal O'Brien, Special Envoy to Derry for the Centenary of St Columba's Church Long Tower on the Feast of Saint Columba 9th June 2009.

Papal Legate His Eminence Keith Patrick Cardinal O'Brien arrives at the Long Tower Church Derry.

Papal Legate Blesses Bishop Seamus Hegarty,Auxiliary Bishop Francis Lagan,Bishop Emeritus Edward Daly and the Congregation with Holy Water before entering the Long Tower Church.

The Entrance Procession and time to grab a quick photo.

Letter from Pope Benedict XVI to Cardinal O’Brien appointing him as

Special Envoy to Derry

To our venerable brother KEITH MICHAEL PATRICK Cardinal O’BRIEN
Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh
The centenary is now approaching of the founding of the Long Tower church of
St Columba in Derry diocese. On that very spot there once stood, dedicated to
this Saint, a famous monastery which strove to spread both the Gospel message
and the worship and culture accompanying it.
It is, accordingly, most fair and fitting that this occasion should be appropriately
commemorated and celebrated as it thoroughly deserves. This celebration provides
the possibility and the opportunity not only to recall the actual event but also, by
applying those early teachings to modern challenges, to encourage people to livelier
devotion, firmer faith and stronger resolution.
Therefore, with the mercy and favour of the Lord himself, on the ninth of June
Saint Columba will be commemorated, and the centenary of his church will be duly
celebrated, where traditionally great crowds of pilgrims gather to pray for gifts and
redeeming graces from God.
In this connection our Venerable Brother Séamus Hegarty, Bishop of Derry, asked
us to send a Cardinal – and we have decided to accede to this request – to give
heightened splendour to the ceremony.
And so, Venerable Brother, our thoughts turned to you, as an appropriate person
given your own connection with the event – to take part in it, as representing at it
Our own person. Accordingly, moved by great affection, we declare and appoint
you, Our Venerable Brother, as Our Special Envoy to carry out the above-mentioned
celebration.
Therefore, to each and every participant and to all the faithful present there, you will
show Our kindly goodwill and also convey our appeal to recapture that ancient
devotion and hold to it. We wish you to impart to everyone, in our name and by our
authority, the Apostolic Blessing. May it be a sign of spiritual renewal and a warrant
of heavenly graces to come.

From the Vatican Palace on the second day of May in the year two thousand and nine,
the fifth of Our pontificate.

Benedictus PP XVI