Members of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference gathered this week for their Spring 2025 General Meeting in Columba Centre of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth. The President of the Conference is Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, and the Vice-President is Archbishop Dermot Farrell of Dublin. During their meeting bishops’ concelebrated Mass in Saint Mary’s Oratory, with seminarians, lay and clergy staff in attendance.
Bishops prayed for the improving health and recovery of the Holy Father Pope Francis, for peace in the Holy Land, and for a successful outcome to peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Regarding the latter, bishops noted the statement of 4 March, from Bishop Mariano Crociata, President of COMECE – which is composed of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of all member States of the European Union – which stated:
The main issues discussed by bishops during their Spring General Meeting included:
- World peace to be prayed for at Mass on Saint Patrick’s Day
- #Lent2025 and preparation for Holy Week and Easter
- Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative reports on the effects of vapes
- Invitation to young people to become charity volunteers to help the vulnerable
- Trócaire’s Lenten campaign supporting the people of Guatemala
- Child safeguarding in the Catholic Church in Ireland
- Local and national pilgrimages during Jubilee Year 2025
- Discerning a vocation to the Priesthood
- Update on the Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland
- Election of officers of the Bishops’ Conference
- Restructuring administrative apparatus of the Bishops’ Conference
- In Memoriam
Details:
- World peace to be prayed for at Mass on Saint Patrick’s Day
On 17 March next, as we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, patron of Ireland, bishops encourage everyone to unite in prayer for peace in our world, especially in Gaza, Ukraine, Syria and Sudan. Given the importance of the national feast day, and the suffering Patrick experienced as a migrant, bishops ask parishes to reach out in a special way to people who have come to live within our communities, and to extend welcome, support and solidarity to them at this time.
Peace in the Holy Land
Affirming the right of all of the people of the Holy Land to live in peace in their own homeland, the bishops associated themselves with the message of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, when he said in a recent homily delivered in Gaza: “When the war ends, we will rebuild everything: our schools, our hospitals, and our homes. We must remain resilient and full of strength. And I repeat: We will never abandon you, and we will do everything we can to support and assist you” (Mass at the Holy Family Church, Gaza, 22 December 2024). Similarly, bishops echoed the words of Pope Francis who said in recent days from his hospital bed, “I pray above all for peace. From here war appears even more absurd!”
- #Lent2025 and preparation for Holy Week and Easter
The period of Lent prepares us for Easter Sunday, which falls on 20 April this year. For Christians, Lent commemorates Jesus’ forty days of fasting in the desert before He began His public ministry and, during this holy season, we are called to renew our Christian life – through prayer, sacrifice and charity – in preparation for Easter.
Bishops reflected on Pope Francis’ message for Lent 2025, wherein the Holy Father invites us to reflect on our personal and communal journey of faith, emphasising conversion through unity, love, and hope, rooted in trust in God’s promises. Bishops encourage all people of goodwill to read Pope Francis’ short Lenten message on the theme: Let us journey together in hope, available here: Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for Lent 2025
24 Hours for the Lord
As part of our praying during Lent, on 28 and 29 March next, 24 hours of continuous Confession will be provided in designated churches and details will be available on parish/diocesan websites. Dioceses throughout the country will facilitate members of the faithful to participate in this ‘24 Hours for the Lord’ prayer initiative of Pope Francis to enable us to experience the Lord’s loving mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), and for the opportunity to pray in a sacred space for the needs of those who suffer. For this Jubilee Year, the Holy Father has chosen the 24 Hours for the Lord motto from the words of the Psalmist, ‘You are my hope’ (Ps. 71:5).
‘Click To Pray’ app
The faithful are also invited to follow #Lent2025 messages on social media, and to stay informed about Pope Francis’ prayer intentions and social posts using the Holy Father’s ‘Click To Pray’ app. Click To Pray is not just a digital platform, it is a spiritual tool than can accompany the faithful with prayer and reflections throughout the day, thus helping us stay in constant dialogue with the Lord and to stay connected with the Universal Church especially during our Jubilee Year journey.
- Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative reports on the effects of vapes
Since 1997, the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative has pastorally supported parish communities and schools in relation to drug/alcohol substance abuse in Ireland. Bishops noted that in recent times the IBDI has received an increased level of information requests for education around the dangers inherent in some legally available vapes. Bishops heard the example of a parent who had contacted the IBDI to outline the dangers of one such vape, hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), and how her daughter had become addicted with serious effects. Some of the possible side-effects of HCC include severe anxiety, paranoia, psychosis, long-term cognitive impairment, depression and suicidal ideation. Physical health risks, including rapid heart rate and seizures. HHC has been regulated or banned in several European countries. In this context, bishops noted the Irish Times article by Bishop Michael Router, published on Temperance Sunday, that reflected on the struggles of Venerable Matt Talbot – who died one-hundred years ago this year – and which addressed this serious matter of substance addiction in society today. Bishops undertook to raise awareness about the IBDI in their dioceses. For more information on the work of the IBDI, the national coordinator Darren Butler can be contacted on [email protected].
- Invitation to young people to become charity volunteers to help the vulnerable
The Commission for Social Issues and International Affairs of the Bishops’ Conference received a presentation by Brother Richard Hendrick OFM(Cap), and Mr Brian Friel, CEO of the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless People, Dublin, on the work of the centre in providing food, clothing and basic medical and hygiene care for thousands of people and families each year. This stems from the Gospel-inspired mission, charisms and long-term presence of the Capuchins in that part of Dublin since the 1620s.
Bishops said, “The work at the Capuchin Day Centre is a great example of Christian solidarity with the most vulnerable in our society. There are many other charities across the country that welcome everyone and undertake similar work from a Catholic perspective. Sadly, due to the rising levels of rent, shortage in housing supply and the prolonged and disproportionate impact of the cost-of-living crisis on vulnerable and low-income households, there will continue to be a need for the provision of basic food and related supports to thousands of people.”
Bishops continued, “We invite all people this Lent, especially young people, to consider becoming a volunteer with organisations that provide outreach to those in our country who are most vulnerable. To volunteer with such organisations is a sign of hope and witness to the Gospel. We remember the inspiring words of Pope Francis in Rome last Sunday for the Jubilee of Volunteers, namely, ‘in the deserts of poverty and loneliness, all those small gestures are helping to make a new humanity blossom in the garden that is God’s dream, always and everywhere, for all of us.’”
- Trócaire’s Lenten campaign supporting the people of Guatemala
The 2025 Trócaire Lenten Appeal strongly complements the mission of the Church as it focuses on the exploitation of the people of Guatemala, challenges injustice and highlights the effects of climate change, both of which push families further into poverty. Church resources on this theme have been distributed to all parishes and representatives of Trócaire will speak to congregations at Mass during Lent.
Bishops commended Dr Anna Rowlands, Professor of Catholic Social Thought at Durham University, for her delivery of the annual Trócaire/Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, lecture, on the theme, ‘A Politics of Hope and Catholic Social Teaching as a Guiding Light’. Recording of the lecture is available by contacting [email protected]
- Child safeguarding in the Catholic Church in Ireland
The chief executive of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland, Mr Aidan Gordon, and Dr Keith Holmes, the Interim Chair of the National Board, advised the bishops on activities engaging the current work of the Board. This included a briefing on the annual safeguarding conference that will take place in Athlone, in September, with the working title of: ‘Towards a Restorative and Transitional Justice Approach to engaging with victims and survivors in the Catholic Church.’
- Local and national pilgrimages during Jubilee Year 2025
This Jubilee 2025 not only represents a time of grace and spiritual renewal for the entire Church, but also offers the opportunity to the faithful to experience reconciliation, mercy, and renewed communion with God and with our brothers and sisters.
During 2025, individual dioceses have designated local pilgrimage venues for special Jubilee celebrations, incorporating the plenary indulgence granted by the Holy Father. The Irish Bishops’ Conference has also designated three national pilgrimage sites for the Jubilee Year:
– Croagh Patrick, Co Mayo; and,
– Saint Patrick’s Purgatory, Lough Derg, Co Donegal,
In this context, bishops commended Father John Kenny, Administrator of Westport Parish (Croagh Patrick), Monsignor Laurence (La) Flynn (Prior of Lough Derg), and Father Richard Gibbons (Parish Priest and Rector of the International Eucharistic and Marian Shrine at Knock) for creating the concept of the ‘Pilgrim’s Passport’ to encourage people to set themselves the spiritual goal of visiting the three sites during this Jubilee year. Bishop Fintan Monahan of Killaloe, the Jubilee 2025 designate of the Bishops’ Conference, will participate in the online launch for the Pilgrim’s Passport which will take place at 3.00pm on 26 March on www.pilgrimpassport.weebly.com/
Many individual Jubilee 2025 celebrations are happening in Rome throughout the year, and parishes are encouraged to replicate some of these at local level. For details on local events, pilgrims are encouraged to visit parish and diocesan websites and social media pages. Plans are at an advanced stage for the Jubilee of Youth Pilgrimage to Rome and several dioceses are organising groups to participate. For information click here.
The official Jubilee 2025 poster can be found here and to download the official Jubilee App click here.
- Discerning a vocation to the Priesthood
Bishops prayed for those who will attend the ‘Come and See’ Vocations Day that will take place this Saturday, 15 March, in Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth.
This Vocations Day is a follow-on gathering for those who already attended Vocations Days last October/November in three venues around the country. Last weekend in Larne, Co Antrim, 21 men attended the ‘Come and See’ day which provided them with the opportunity to continue discerning a possible vocation to the diocesan priesthood.
- Update on the Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland
The Synodal Pathway is a reflective journey, fostering a wide dialogue – at all levels of Church life – seeking a deeper understanding of key issues in order to discern priorities. Bishops, noting the necessity of this gradual process, welcomed the comprehensive timeline presented by the National Synodal Team that leads to the first National Synodal Assembly in October 2026, and re-affirmed their commitment to ongoing engagement, discernment and co-responsible decision-making in the spirit of the outcomes and recommendations in the October 2024 publication of the Universal Synod’s Final Document, For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.
Engagement and discernment across Ireland
Throughout Spring 2025, dioceses and various groups are hosting gatherings to discern key priorities for action – for mission – drawing on the 17 themes that emerged in Ireland during the universal synodal consultation process. Using the communal discernment methodology known as ‘Conversation in the Spirit,’ the gatherings are helping the Church to discern its mission in contemporary Ireland. The emerging priorities from these gatherings will be presented at a pre-synodal assembly in Kilkenny in October. For further information see synod.ie
Key dates and milestones for the Synodal Pathway in Ireland
– May – June 2025: The National Synodal Team will study the feedback and prepare the emerging priorities.
– 18 October 2025: The emerging priorities will be presented to, and discerned by, representatives and delegates from dioceses and groups at the National Pre-Synodal Assembly at the Kilkenny Convention Centre.
– November 2025 – September 2026: Working groups, theological research groups, and groups from other disciplines will be established for each priority to inform the preparation for the first National Synodal Assembly in October 2026.
– 17 October 2026: National Synodal Assembly – decisions from this assembly will guide future actions and implementation strategies for the Catholic Church in Ireland.
- Election of officers of the Bishops’ Conference
During their meeting, bishops elected the following to serve for the next three years as the officers of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference:
– Archbishop Dermot Farrell of Dublin as Vice-President
– Archbishop Francis Duffy of Tuam as Episcopal Secretary
– Bishop Ger Nash of Ferns as Finance Secretary
- Restructuring administrative apparatus of the Bishops’ Conference
As part of the ongoing review of the administrative structures of the Bishops’ Conference, the following two new councils are being created following the amalgamation of former councils:
– Council for Evangelisation, Catechetics and Pastoral Renewal, which will be chaired by Bishop Fintan Gavin of Cork and Ross.
- In Memoriam
Bishops prayed for the repose of the soul of Bishop Willie Walsh RIP, Bishop Emeritus of Killaloe, who passed into Eternal Life on 19 February 2025. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís.
ENDS
