In the late afternoon of Saturday 28 October 2023, the members of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops adopted the following Synthesis Report (click on image below).

World Mission Sunday is the Holy Father’s annual appeal for spiritual and financial support so that the life-giving work of overseas mission and missionaries can continue. It always falls on the second last Sunday in October, and like the Good Friday collection for the Holy Land and Peter’s Pence, it is one of three yearly...

As the Universal Synod draws close, we invite you to join us in prayer on Thursday 28th September at 7.30pm in St Anne’s Church, Sligo to pray for the Synod and all who participate. A similar moment of prayer will take place in St Peter’s Square on Saturday 30th September.

The Season of Creation has a special significance for the Catholic Church, particularly since Pope Francis established 1 September as an annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. The Season of Creation is marked throughout the Christian world from 1 September to 4 October (Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi) and celebrates...

Couples celebrating their Silver, Ruby, Golden or Diamond wedding anniversaries are invited to attend along with their families and friends. Light refreshments will be served after Mass to all in attendance.  Sunday 15th October at 2.30pm in St Mary’s Church, Ballygar, Co Galway (F42 YD83) REGISTRATION FOR COUPLES As each couple celebrating an Anniversary will...

Garland Weekend Programme 2023 Theme:        United in Prayer   Friday 28th July 10.00am          Morning Mass in St John’s Church, Carraroe  Private pilgrimage in preparation for the Weekend   Saturday 29th July 6.30pm           Individual Confession 7.00pm           Evening Mass – Keeping a Sacred Tradition   Sunday 30st July 6.00am          Dawn Mass – Remembering Penal Ireland 10.00am         Morning...

The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland, recently arranged for the Second periodic independent review of Child Safeguarding Practice in the Diocese of Elphin. The review was carried out in March 2023 and the report has now been released to me for publication. I very much welcome the report. I...

The Pray for Life Novena (prayforlife.ie) is an invitation to people across Ireland, and indeed across the world, to pray for the protection of human life.  The novena, an initiative of the Council for Life of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, begins on 23rd May 2023 and ends on 31st May, the wonderful feast of...

Catholic Bishops’ statement Abortion: Changing the Narrative Click here for PDF version of statement below Click here to read Bishops’ critique of Government’s review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act, 2018 Five Years Since the Abortion Referendum Following the referendum on abortion in May 2018, we said: “a new situation now exists...

The Elphin Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take from 23rd – 28th 2023.  For all information, costs, accommodation options, to book etc, please visit www.joewalshtours.ie Assisted Pilgrim Section  The Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from 23rd August 2023 to the 28th August, 2023 inclusive, under the leadership of Bishop Kevin Doran. Pilgrimage Highlights...