Statement of the Western Bishops to mark one year of Covid – 19

On Wednesday March 3^rd, the six Bishops of the Western Province issued a statement to mark the first anniversary of the outbreak of Covid in Ireland.

The Bishops called for an increase from ten to twenty five in the number of people who can attend a funeral Mass.

They also proposed that all confirmations be deferred until the autumn and they encouraged parishes to do likewise in relation to the celebration of First Holy Communion.

To read the full text of the Bishops’ Statement please click here

February 1st 2021

Archbishop Michael Neary welcomes announcement by Pope Francis of the establishment of a World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly

As patron of the Catholic Grandparents Association, I warmly welcome the Holy Father’s announcement of his decision to establish a World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly which will be celebrated by the Universal Church every year on the fourth Sunday of July, the Sunday closest to the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, Jesus’ grandparents.  This announcement comes at the end of a long process of engagement and discussion between the Catholic Grandparents Association and the Holy See, and I thank the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, for his support and assistance.

The Catholic Grandparents Association exists to encourage and assist grandparents to pass on the Catholic faith to their grandchildren and to keep prayer at the heart of family life.  It does this by organising the annual Grandparents’ Pilgrimage to Knock, by organising grandchildren’s prayer appeals, by organising Grandparents’ Day in schools, and by promoting Pope Benedict XVI’s Universal Prayer for Grandparents.(http://www.catholicgrandparentsassociation.org/popes-prayer/ )

Through this most welcome initiative, Pope Francis is highlighting the very important role grandparents and elders play in passing the faith to upcoming generations of children.  Grandparents and others family members of their generation, proudly attend all the important sacramental milestones in the young person’s life – Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation.   It is always most edifying to meet the three generations on these occasions and to share in the family’s pride and joy.  Grandparents are often very generous with their time and wisdom, they gently and lovingly teach their grandchildren the well-known prayers, and share the gift of faith in a very edifying way. (End)