News

Homily of Archbishop Eamon Martin at Mass in memory of the Disappeared for Palm Sunday 2021

  Standing through the solemn reading of the Lord’s passion, from the Gospel of Mark, acts like a great overture to Holy Week. As if in a great symphony, its themes will keep returning in the prayers and readings of the coming days. And then on Good Friday next, at three o’clock, we will stand again  - as if in a great recapitulation - to listen to Saint John’s accou...

Northern Catholic Bishops oppose introduction of abortion services

    Statement by the Northern Catholic Bishops regarding the intention of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to introduce extreme and discriminatory abortion services to Northern Ireland:    "What Westminster seeks to impose, against the clear will of a majority of people here, is a law which blatantly undermines the right to life of unborn children and p...

Sharing the Good News - Issue 63, March 2021

    Please see below Issue 63 of Sharing the Good News. The March 2021 issue features articles on: the plans for a National Synod within the next five years; the announcement by the Northern Bishops of a cautious return to public worship; Knock Shrine's designation as both Marian and Eucharistic; Archbishop Eamon Martin's message of hope to the people of Ireland...

The public celebration of Mass and the Sacraments to resume from Friday, 26th March

    Permission has now been given to resume the public celebration of Mass and the Sacraments from Friday, the 26th March, provided all protocols are observed. This includes the cleaning / sanitising of the Church after each ceremony, observing proper distance – 2m if possible - and having stewards for larger gatherings.  Numbers will be limited. We propose to begin ...

Statement by the Northern Bishops announcing that public worship may resume in Northern Ireland from 26 March 2021

    Bishops in the North announce a cautious return to public worship for the faithful from 26 March, in time for the celebration of Holy Week and Easter. Bishops emphasise the need for continued caution and a rigorous application of all mitigations and safeguards required to ensure the safest possible return to public worship in our Churches. Every person should c...

Saint Patrick’s Day 2021 message to the people of Ireland at home and abroad from Archbishop Eamon Martin

  I pray that people who are struggling with the pandemic, whose livelihoods have been threatened, or have contracted the virus, that they will find in Saint Patrick the courage and resilience to go on I pray, as we reflect on our shared history, that we will find in Saint Patrick a source of courage and values as we face with confidence new possibilities for today and t...

Mass on Saint Patrick's Day at 10:00 a.m. from the Church of Saint Trea, Newbridge

    Mass on Saint Patrick's Day from the Church of Saint Trea, Newbridge can be viewed at 10:00 a.m. on the St Treas - Parish of Newbridge & Ballymaguigan Facebook page at the link below. If there is no sound when the video starts, you should click on the Volume icon at the bottom of the video to enable sound. St Treas - Parish of Newbridge & Ballymaguigan Facebook p...

Week of Prayer Resource from the Council for Marriage and the Family from 13-19 March

    On 19 March 2021, the Church will celebrate five years since the publication of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) on the beauty and joy of love in the family. On that day, Pope Francis will launch a year dedicated to the family which will conclude on 26 June 2022 on the occasion of the Tenth World Meeting of Families in Rome. Bishop...

Mass being offered for the Lough Derg pilgrim family on RTE - Sunday 21st March at 11am

    LOUGH DERG - Sunday 21st March, RTE Studio Broadcast Mass at 11am will be celebrated by Msgr La Flynn, Prior of Lough Derg along with the Lough Derg Pastoral and Music teams.   The Mass will be offered for the Lough Derg pilgrim family near and far.   Tune into RTE 1 Television or RTE Radio 1.    ...

The Holy Father’s formal recognition of the Shrine at Knock as an International Marian and Eucharistic Shrine

  Archbishop Eamon Martin welcomes the Holy Father’s formal recognition of the Shrine at Knock as an International Marian and Eucharistic Shrine   As President of the Irish Episcopal Conference, I warmly welcome the announcement from the Holy See that the Shrine of Our Lady of Knock is to be recognised as an International Marian and Eucharistic Shrine from 19 March 2021, ...