On the feast of Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, the team of Christopher Inn International gathered for Mass at the home of Howard and Joan Johnson. Father Tom McDonough, a priest of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, presided at the liturgy.

At the close of Mass, the members of the Christopher Inn International prayed a consecration prayer to Mary, Queen of Apostles, asking for her intercession for this new apostolate at the service of Catholic clergy. This was the culmination of a novena of prayer to Our Lady, Queen of Apostles, a title by which Mary is recognized for her motherly patronage and prayers for the apostles, and, by extension, for all who have followed the apostles in priestly service.

The celebration of the Mass of consecration on this day was significant because the project will be based in Ireland, the land where St. Patrick offered his service to the Gospel. Moreover, just one day earlier, on March 16, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI announced that a Year for Priests would be celebrated worldwide: “In order to favor [the] tendency of priests toward spiritual perfection, upon which the effectiveness of their ministry principally depends, I have decided to call a special ‘Year for Priests’ which will run from 19 June 2009 to 19 June 2010.” (source)

After Mass, the group enjoyed a meal together to commemorate the occasion.