News

Ash Wednesday 2021 will be mostly without ashes but families can pray, fast and be generous – Archbishop Eamon Martin

    Archbishop Eamon Martin has said that while Ash Wednesday 2021 will be mostly without ashes, families can still pray, fast and be generous this Lent. The archbishop was speaking as the Church prepares to celebrate the Season of Lent in the context of Covid-19 restrictions. Archbishop Martin said, "The season of Lent is a forty day penitential period leading up to...

Human Life International Virtual Vocations Day on 27th February

  Message from Robert O'Hara on behalf of Human Life International (Ireland):   Human Life International are organising a Virtual Vocations Day for the 27th February - see further details at www.humanlife.ie or view the poster. Taking the right steps in our Life is not something we do on our own, and it does not depend on any road we choose to travel. How we find joy and&nbs...

On-line retreat for couples

  CANA@Home is providing an on-line retreat for couples.  We hope this will be a valuable resource to your diocese.  In the latest session they explore ‘the living room as a reflection of our lives together as a couple’.   All sessions are available to watch on the You Tube Channel CANA Journey at the following link: https://youtu.be/yacBMtYjcKQ. ...

Consecration to St. Joseph

  Pope Francis has announced ‘The Year of St. Joseph’ to commemorate St Joseph ‘Patron of The Universal Church’. Pope Francis describes St Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows. ‘Consecration to St. Joseph - Th...

Lent at Drumalis

  Drumalis has a number of events planned for Lent, via Zoom. Marian Curran will offer a series 'A Lenten Prayer Journey in Ignatian Spirituality', on Monday mornings in Lent, beginning on February 22. Suzanne Hesketh and Justine Sweeney will offer 'An Introduction to Ignatian Spirituality' on five Sunday evenings during Lent, beginning on February 21. And the...

Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse on Friday, 19th February

  The annual Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Abuse takes place on Friday 19 February.   Prayers will be offered at Masses on that day for those who have been hurt by abuse in the Church.   We are all asked to remember this intention in our private prayers also.   ...

Continuous Rosary in Ireland for Peace and Charity

  Continuous Rosary in Ireland for Peace and Charity Beginning Ash Wednesday, 17th February 2021.   To make this work there needs to be a minimum of two parishioners per parish, one with surname beginning A-L and one with surname M-Z to say the rosary twelve times per year. For more information please see www.continuousrosary.com. ...

Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes from 3rd February to 11th February

    Ahead of the celebration of the World Day of the Sick on 11 February 2021, the Bishops’ Council for Healthcare offers the following Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes to pray for those who are sick, for all who work in the medical profession, and for an end to the pandemic.   The Novena begins on Wednesday 3 February and concludes on Thursday 11 February – the Feas...

Trócaire Lenten Parish Resources for 2021

  Trócaire works with parishes and communities across the island of Ireland to educate, inspire and motivate people to take action for global justice.   They are supported in this work by Bishops, priests, pastoral workers and parishioners in every diocese. On his visit to Ireland in August 2018, Pope Francis spoke of the need to "forge a future of freedom and dign...

Statement by Bishop Michael Router on Pope Francis’s Message for the World Day of the Sick 2021

    As chair of the Council for Healthcare of the Irish Episcopal Conference, I welcome Pope Francis's message for the World Day of the Sick which takes place on 11 February, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.   The past year has been an extraordinary one.  As a deadly and disruptive virus circled the world, we became more acutely aware of the importance of health...