Festival Week and Closing Ceremonies (2016)
Festival Week 2016 was the All Hallows way of celebrating the college history and legacy.
For a glorious week in July, celebrations and commemorations were held throughout the campus – in the Chapel, the graveyard, the heritage exhibition and on the front lawn, where a spacious marquee was the gathering point for all our many guests.
Each day’s events paid homage to different facets of the All Hallows story – students, staff, alumni, friends, Vincentian family, pastmen and jubilarians and the transition of the All Hallows campus to DCU.
Sunday: Family Fun Day
We welcomed our neighbouring community and all our alumni to join us for a Family Fun Day on the front lawn, with music, food and plenty of entertainment to keep young people happy and active.
Monday: Celtic Mass
We honoured our Celtic heritage with the Celtic Mass of All Hallows, celebrated by Fr John Joe Spring, with music composed by All Hallows alumnus, Stefan Waligur.
Tuesday: Blessing of the Graves
The college cemetery is the final resting place for fifty-eight men and one woman including Fr Hand and seven of his successors as Presidents of All Hallows.
A blessing of the graves was conducted in the presence of All Hallows staff and students as well as family members of those interred in the graveyard.
Later, there was a liturgy in gratitude to the Vincentian community in their administration of All Hallows since 1892.
Wednesday: Opening and Blessing of Heritage Exhibition and Reflective Garden
With the opening of our Heritage Exhibition and Reflective Garden, we acknowledged the rich cultural, social, historical and ecclesiastical legacy of All Hallows.
Friday: Academic Symposium
An academic symposium addressed the themes of Mission and Ministry and Values in Third-Level Education, topics that reflect the niche provision of All Hallows to the third level education sector.
Closing and Ceremony of Transfer to Dublin City University
Festival Week culminated in a moving liturgical ceremony and mass which marked the transition of the campus over to the ownership of Dublin City University.