Investiture of Mr. Gearóid Williams
Knight of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great
Kilrush, 29th of November, 2025
You are so welcome again to the celebration of the investiture of Mr. Gearóid Williams as a Knight of Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great. As you may or may not know Gearóid has been a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre for many years. The order supports Christians in the Holy Land by funding humanitarian aid along with educational, and pastoral projects. Its mission is to animate zeal for the Holy Land, sustain the Catholic Church there, and uphold the rights of the Church. Members are called to deepen their own faith through prayer and practice, contribute to charitable works, and work for peace and justice.
Receiving this award today is a promotion within the order. The presentation today is like the All-Star Awards or even one better the hall of fame award within the Equestrian Order.
St. Gregory
St. Gregory the first or Gregory the Great as you can see from your booklets was an outstanding Pope in so many ways, around the time of St. Senan and over a millennia later in 1831 Pope Gregory the 16th established the Order of St. Gregory as one of the Papal Orders for outstanding recipients.
One of the traditional privileges of Knights is that if they are in any of the major basilicas of the Eternal City, they are not obliged to dismount from their horse as they enter the basilica. They don’t have to take off their spurs and come down off the horse, except when receiving Holy Communion. Now how convenient is that! So if you see the newly promoted Knight advancing along Toler street on horseback in the coming weeks, make way for him as you understand and appreciate his newly acquired privileges.
Guidelines for Bishops
I also noted with interest in your booklet on St. Gregory that he was the author of a Pastoral Guide for Bishops, on their duties and responsibilities way back in the day. It became a standard textbook for Bishops for many centuries. I wonder if that might be put into a modern day format, Bishop’s guide for Dummies, perhaps and it would become a best seller at the annual Baby Bishop’s Course!
Annunciation
Getting down to business, there is a contemporary depiction of today’s Gospel scene of the Annunciation in the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul on loan from the artist Adam Pomeroy. It captures many aspects of the great Annunciation story to Mary. The light of the appearance of the messenger of the Lord, the invitation to Mary to cooperate with a mission, beyond all missions. There is a sense of fear, trepidation and awe in the face and eyes of Mary at the magnitude of her proposed mission. Her great affirmative response was to have such momentous implications for the history of Salvation. On the eve of Advent 2025 we rejoice in that magnificent yes.
Ongoing “Yes” of Gearóid
Today with the investiture of Mr. Gearóid Williams into this Papal Order of St. Gregory we also rejoice in his affirmation of “yes” to be involved in the Church of Jesus Christ and his local community in so many ways, using so many of his considerable skills and talents.
Lector – Minister of the Word
For several decades, here in Kilrush Gearóid has been steeped in the life of the local Church and the pastoral activities of same and of the community at large. He is no stranger to this pulpit as he has been a Minister of the Word of God as lector both during weekdays and weekends.
Service of the Poor
In recent months with the first Apostolic Letter of Pope Leo, Dilexi te, on care for the Poor he has firmly pinned his colours to the mast in his preferential option for the poor, following on the legacy of Pope Francis.
For several decades Gearóid has been a quiet, discreet voice and activity of just that here in Kilrush through his work with the St. Vincent de Paul Society. All of this work was done in such a pastoral, confidential, compassionate manner. He knows from experience when he has to be tough and when it is time for compassion. I am told he is held in great esteem and respect by those in need, always referred as “Mr. Williams” and known for huge regard for the needs of families and children at the core of the charitable work he administers. Like Mary in the annunciation, “yes” to the voice of God.
St. Senan’s Church, Kilrush
In this beautiful Church of St. Senan he has been a constant supporting presence of all that goes on at administrative, pastoral, liturgical level and his involvement, experience, advice, professional services and expertise has been appreciated at all levels, especially in the efforts to raise literally millions of euros for the maintenance and repair of the building. Another example of his “yes” to God.
On so many levels in the community, with his involvement with various clubs and societies, he has been a sought after member of organising committees. His great yes to selfless service and outreach.
Knight of the Equestrian Order
As a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre he has for many years and as national chancellor for quite some time he is a passionate advocate for the people and the upkeep and preservation of the sites of the Holy Land, the birth place and location of ministry of Our Lord, during his time on earth. Another great example of that affirmative “yes” in response to the Lord. Deos lo vult, Mar is toil le Dia é, for God wills it, one of the great mottos of the Equestrian Order.
Humility
As you know an occasion like this is the last thing that a discreet and self-effacing person like Gearóid would feel like organising and it certainly was not something he applied for or sought after. I still remember his shock and surprise when at a recent ceremony in Holy Cross Abbey in Tipperary I had the pleasant task of informing him of his impending Papal Honour. The expression of puzzlement on his face was one to behold. Fortunately his great colleague and sponsor from the Equestrian Order, Peter Durnin was on hand to explain the significance and encourage him to accept. Another echo of the great “yes” of Mary.
Support of Family
Of course Gearóid wouldn’t be able to be involved in so much, were it not for the constant and unswerving loyalty and support of his family, his wife Dr. Mary, the children and all the extended family. No doubt all very proud and rightly so of him today.
We rejoice and are Glad!
Today, all the community, family and friends gathered today for his special occasion thank you Gearóid and congratulate you in your great work. On some occasions – the presentation of a Papal honour, a Bene Merenti or a Pro Ecclesia medal can be given as a hint to someone that it might be time to hang up the boots, to retire. However, just to assure you Gearóid that is not the intention on this occasion. Please God you will continue your outstanding work for many years to come. As you see from the final words of the investiture on the booklet the solemn words “I now present to you the Papal Brief and direct you to continue to be at the service of the Holy Father and the Church Universal.”
Gearóid, comhgairdeachas. Táimid ar fad faoi chomaoin agat. Go maire to an gradam seo agus gura fada buan thú! Amen!