The Canonisation of Blessed Charles will take place in Rome on Sunday 3rd June next at 10am. Mass of Canonisation will be broadcast live by R.T.E television on that morning, starting at 9am Irish time. This highlights the importance attached to the canonisation of a saint whose body is interred in Mount Argus.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will present the cause of Fr Charles to Pope Benedict and he will be accompanied by Archbishop Sean Brady, the Primate of All Ireland.

To celebrate the Canonisation of Saint Charles of Mount Argus, there will be a special Mass of healing in St Gabriel's Retreat, The Graan at 7.30pm on June the 4th, the day following his Canonisation.

Over 600 pilgrims will depart from Dublin and Belfast to be present in Rome for the Canonisation. Among the pilgrims will be President Mrs Mary Mc Aleese and her husband, Dr Martin.

Fr Charles Houben (1821-1893) never visited the Graan. He was dead before it was built. He was a Dutch Passionist Priest who came to Ireland 150 years ago. He arrived in Mount Argus on the feast of Our Lady of Holy Hope on July the 9th 1857. At that time, Mount Argus was in its infancy, having being founded as the first Passionist House in Ireland one year previously.

Although Fr Charles had difficulty with the English language, he soon became extremely popular because of his two special gifts, miraculous healings and the power of reconciliation. There is a shrine to Blessed Charles in St Gabriel's Retreat, The Graan, Enniskillen. Every day people in need come to ask his intercession and to be blessed with the relic of Blessed Charles which is kept in the Reconciliation Room. On July the 9th the feast of Mary the Mother of Hope, and the 150th Anniversary to the day Fr Charles arrived in Dublin and Mount Argus, a group from Holland will come for a joint celebration in Mount Argus. Amongst the group will be Mr Dolf Dormans whose miraculous cure, through the intercession of Fr Charles, paved the way for the saint's canonisation.