Leuven Stone in Circle of Life Garden

The National Minister General of the Franciscan Order, Fr. Hugh McKenna paid a special visit to the Circle of Life Garden in Salthill on Friday last to bless the stone from Leuven in Belgium which represents Europe in the garden's Global Heritage Walkway.

This stone was sourced from the historic Irish College in Leuven; the renowned Institute of Education and Learning founded by the Franciscan Order in 1604 and is one of five stones representing the five continents, each from a site associated with a different aspect of the advancement of humanity.  These stones are included in the garden to reflect the universality of the life giving cause of organ donation and communicate a global message of inclusion and welcome. 

Pictured with Fr. Hugh McKenna are Denis Goggin of Strange Boat Donor Foundation, Ann Harrington from Bangor Co Down  and Fr. Michael Bailey, OFM, based in Salthill, Parish and who celebrated his Golden Jubilee as a priest last week.  Fr. Bailey spent many years working as Chaplain to the Irish community working for the EU in Brussels and made many friends there, some of whom traveled to Galway to attend Fr. Bailey's Jubilee Mass and celebrations.