Members of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference gathered in Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, for their Autumn 2023 General Meeting. The President of the Conference is Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh and the Vice-President is Archbishop Dermot Farrell of Dublin.
The main issues discussed by bishops during their Autumn General Meeting included:
• Welcoming Laudate Deum (Praise God) – new exhortation by Pope Francis;
• Budget 2024 measures should target poverty and income protection;
• Bishops express concern re passing of Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act 2023 ;
• Universal Synodal Assembly and Irish Synodal Pathway;
• Safeguarding Children;
• Prayers for Peace and bells to be rung on 11 November;
• Call to pray and display red for persecuted Christians on Red Wednesday, 22 November;
• Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly to celebrate televised Mass on RTÉ for World Mission Sunday on 22 October;
• (i) Year for Vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood (ii) Jubilee of Consecrated Life;
• In Memoriam;
• Welcoming Laudate Deum (Praise God) – new exhortation by Pope Francis.
You can read the full statement here: Statement of the Autumn 2023 General Meeting of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference