Eurovision Song Contest winner Dana played a charity concert in the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel over the weekend to launch the All-Ireland Sacred Heart Crusade of Hope and Love.
Supported by her brother Gerry Brown on keyboards, Dana sang many of her greatest hits, including All Kinds of Everything, Our Lady of Knock, Totus Tuus, and Light the Fire, as well as her latest piece, St Brigid’s Song.
Supporting acts at the concert were An Chead Ghluin Eile, Etain and Maire Ni Churraoin, and The Cullinane family.
Guests arriving to the concert were entertained in the foyer by Aoife Casey on the harp.
Four statues of the Sacred Heart blessed by Pope Francis in Rome – one for each of the four provinces of Ireland – were also present.
The concert was attended by Bishop Denis Nulty, Kildare and Leighlin, while the four priests co-ordinating the Crusade are Fr John Mockler SDS, Fr Shane Gallagher, Dom Basil Mary McCabe OSB and Fr Shane Sullivan.
“I was raised in a home where there was always a Sacred Heart picture with the red light in front of it,” Dana said
“When Damien and I were married we were given a wedding gift of a picture of the Sacred Heart.
“The picture is in our kitchen and it’s amazing how the Sacred Heart is linking the generations.”
It is said that the Sacred Heart appeared to St Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673 France on the feast of St John the Apostle when she was praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament at the convent in Paray-le-Monial.
Two hundred years later in 1873, the Irish Bishops consecrated Ireland and all the children of St Patrick to the Sacred Heart.
Ireland became the first country in the world to be consecrated to the Sacred Heart.
Laois woman Caroline Holmes, one of the organisers of the Crusade, said: “We look forward to the outpouring of graces on all pilgrims of hope.
“We hope everyone will come out to welcome one of the four pilgrim statues of the Sacred Heart as they journey through each Province.”
The Crusade will start in Ulster with Mass of the Sacred Heart on Friday, September 7, in St Eunan’s Cathedral, Letterkenny, Raphoe Diocese, at 7pm celebrated by Monsignor Kevin Gillespie.
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